1 83 



A FARMER'S YEAR 



wrong, or in all at i74/. icxf. On this estimate they will, I fear, 

 still show a loss. Speaking roughly, they have eaten about 3o/. 

 worth of corn and cake, in addition to great quantities of root, hay 

 and straw. 



Writing on a later date I turn back to this page of my diary 

 dealing with the subject of these bullocks, since it seems the best 

 place in which to interpolate the final accounts now available after 

 the decease of the last of them. 



Here they are : 



CREDIT 

 Sold 



i Bullock (sick) 



i 



4 Bullocks by weight 



4 



DEBIT 







2 



12 

 7 6 



79 



10 Irish bullocks bought 

 Hay and root by valua- 

 tion 



Corn bought 

 Grinding corn 



1 ton of cake 



2 coombs linseed . 



170 7 6 



s. 

 130 10 



65 o 



22 10 



1 15 



5 10 



2 2 



227 7 



From this interesting account it would appear that in return 

 for the pleasure of housing, feeding, and caring for that choice lot 

 of imported cattle I am out of pocket to the tune of 567. iqs. 6d., 

 plus whatever bill the veterinary may think it just and right to 

 present for his attendance upon them. They were the most vora- 

 cious animals that ever I had to do with, and I believe the esti- 

 mate for root, &c., which they ate to be absolutely correct ; further, 

 it will be observed that nothing has been set down for labour, 

 because we reckon that the manure they leave in the yard pays 

 for the labour. Also they were the most unhealthy, for, not- 

 withstanding every care, one or other of them was continually 

 ailing, and I hear that the last which has been killed, although he 

 weighed fairly well, was discovered to be suffering from long- 

 standing disease of the liver. 



It may be urged that I was very unlucky with two of these 

 animals, but even on the supposition that they had fetched 4o/. 

 instead of i4/. ictf., which would have brought up the total pro- 



