172 STATES OF THE RIVER PLATE. 



cheaper, per se, than bad beef from which the greater 

 part of its alimentary properties have been drained or 

 wasted. The science and practice of agriculture must in- 

 dicate the ways and means ; and the more advanced this 

 science and practice are, and the more efficient the mecha- 

 nical means brought into play, the more economical will 

 be the conversion of forage into beef. 



It is of the highest importance just now that this pro- 

 blem of beef-producing should have a practical solution. 

 The cattle plague in Europe is reported to have made 

 such ravages in the herds, that some years may probably 

 elapse before the losses are replaced ; and this, coupled 

 with the slaughtering of a large number of breeding 

 stock — cows, dried off in the great city dairies, — and, 

 above all, the increasing necessity for flesh food, conse- 

 quent on the high-pressure existence, mental and bodily, 

 engendered in this age of steam, of rapid and perpetual 

 thought, of constant contact and friction, of sharp wits, 

 and of accelerated movement, which require food of the 

 highest 'azotized' description to maintain, — renders it 

 anore than probable that a large market will be open to 

 fed meat from the plains of South America. 



I am of opinion that isolated attempts on small farms 

 cannot lead to this ' solution.' As a sequence, the feeding 

 of cattle will naturally extend to farmers generally. But, 

 in the meanwhile, establishments of sufficient magnitude, 

 fattening a number of animals, to make an impression on 

 the home consumption, or to supply a curing undertaking 

 for export, will have to be set on foot ; and these must 

 be in connexion with either such curing business, or 

 butchers' stalls, where the meat is properly killed and cut 

 up, as in Europe. 



An ample supply of food and water, regularly given to 

 domesticated animals of cross breed for English stock, 



