GRASS BEEF 25 



manures, or of practical botany, or of all three subjects, to go 

 on without the great help which scientific knowledge can give 

 the farmer. 



The grazier must have some very considerable knowledge of 

 stock, as well as of land. He must be good judge enough to 

 buy those that suit his purpose; he must have observation 

 enough to tell almost at a glance how well or how ill his animals 

 are doing while feeding in his fields ; he must know, almost as by 

 instinct, how and when to move them from field to field, for the 

 animal's sake as well as for the good of the turf. The change of 

 grazing ground, by moving animals from field to field, is quite 

 important in the process of regular and rapid beef-making. He 

 must recognize by the attitude of an animal when it rises from 

 its resting place, from the carriage of its head or from the ap- 

 pearance of its hide that it is ailing and be able to give it the 

 immediate attention that will probably ward off a serious ill- 

 ness. Finally, he must know, though on this point many fail in 

 good judgment, when the time has come at which it is no longer 

 profitable to go on feeding an animal, the time for one to be 

 sent to the shambles, and another put in the field to clear up 

 all that the fat animal has left uneaten. 



One of the great difficulties of such a farmer's career is in 

 obtaining a proper supply of raw material, or store cattle, to 

 grow till they make prime beef. The success, indeed, of the 

 enterprise is frequently endangered not only by the store-stock 

 being priced too high, when the selling-out price of prime 

 bullocks is considered, but also by the inadequate number of 

 animals of good quality. The remedy for this will be discussed 

 later, but we may here refer to one improvement that is quite 

 practicable under conditions similar to those existing before the 

 outbreak of war, should this country unhappily return to them. 

 If improvement is to be made in the matter of increased pro- 

 duction, the change in practice here advocated will be necessary 

 for the sake of further guarding ourselves against danger due 

 to dependence upon oversea-supplies. 



Graziers like old cattle best; they will not willingly buy 

 animals younger than 30 months, and they are better pleased 

 if the store shows the six broad teeth indicating that he is at 



