418 THE FARMER'S AND 



which, in the hind-quarter, No. 3 is the gigot, and 2 the 

 loin ; and in the fore, 3 the back-ribs, and 4 th breast 

 and shoulders. The gigot is cut about half way between 

 the leg and haunch of the London method ; and the fore- 

 quarter is cut right through the shoulders in two places, 

 called back-ribs and breast. 



Shoulders of mutton are never cut off in Scotland be- 

 fore being cooked, except by keepers of eating-houses : but 

 the London plan of cutting mutton is decidedly the best, 

 the shoulder forming an excellent roast, and the best end 

 of the neck-piece being admirably suited for chops. 



The different joints of mutton vary almost as much in 

 price in London as pieces of beef. The leg is sometimes 

 sold as high as lOd. a pound, while the breast of the same 

 sheep will only fetch 4d. or 5d. ; and if, in the wholesale 

 market, the whole carcass is sold at 6d. a pound, the hind- 

 quarter will be worth 7d. and the fore only 5d. From 

 these facts it is obvious, that it is the interest of the ship- 

 per only to send hind-quarters of mutton to London, for 

 which 7d. a pound may be easily obtained, and a ready 

 market for them in the west-end butchers, who seldom 

 deal in fore-quarters. The fore-quarter should be sold at 

 home ; hence realizing as much for them as they could 

 fetch in London, besides saving on them the freight, com- 

 mission, and wharfage. They form excellent joints for 

 tradesmen's families, and are, in fajct, generally preferred 

 by them to the hind-quarters, which are considered dry 

 eating, and certainly do not make as good broth as the 

 fore-quarter. Besides the saving of room in packing the 

 hind-quarters, they would run no risk of being stained 

 when sent by themselves, as the staining generally arises 

 from blood oozing out of the veins in the fore-quarter. 



Lamb is cut up in London in much the same manner 

 as mutton, excepting that the neck and breast, when the 

 shoulder is taken off, is roasted whole, and the piece is 



