BRITISH AGRICULTURE 113 



produced throughout the country. Practically 

 no cost for transportation is entailed in reaching 

 the market. The tendency of all imported pro- 

 ducts to get into the hands of a few large dealers 

 is avoided. With meat, there is a constant 

 succession of cattle and sheep coming into the 

 markets. The first grass-fed beef from the 

 earliest pastures is succeeded by other supplies 

 when grass becomes generally plentiful. In 

 the late autumn, winter and spring stall-fed 

 cattle supply the markets until the first grass-fed 

 beef again comes in. In the same way the early 

 lamb crop from certain districts is followed by 

 supplies from all parts, and during the winter 

 the sheep and lambs fed on the root crop come 

 into the market. The increased output of home 

 killed meat would also tend to assure a cheap 

 supply throughout the country of the less costly 

 cuts for those classes whose means do not allow 

 them to purchase the more expensive joints. 1 

 Industries which use leather would also be 

 certain of a plentiful supply of their raw 

 material. 



It would be outside the scope of this book 

 to suggest the means by which a larger production 

 of home-grown foodstuffs could be brought 

 about. Undoubtedly the higher prices of meat 

 should tend to increase production, though looked 

 1 Also the etceteras, heart, liver, etc., etc. 



H 



