65 



ticular accounts which have been given me. Most of these ex- 

 amples will appear unfavorable, and in that case they will only 

 confirm the opinions of many experienced farmers, one of whom, 

 to use his own expression, maintains that the fatting of beef 

 has been a bad business these twenty years. If the examples 

 which I give are true, it is all that can be required. It will be 

 then for every one to make up his judgment from the evidence 

 presented, or otherwise to search for other causes than what 

 appear for the result. 



Example 1. — March 25. D. S. sent a fine yoke of oxen to 

 market, which he anticipated would weigh twenty-three hun- 

 dred lbs. when dressed at Brighton. They were purchased 

 last winter for seventy-five dollars, and brought to the barn 

 about the first of November. Their allowance, as nearly as 

 can be ascertained, has been as much hay as they would con- 

 sume, and more than one peck of provender, half corn and 

 half broom-seed ground together, per day, and the measure 

 always heaped full. The mixture, as nearly as can be deter- 

 mined, consisted of five quarts of Indian meal and four of 

 broom-corn meal. Corn meal at three cents per quart. Broom- 

 seed at thirty-three cents per bushel. Hay at ten dollars per 

 two thousand lbs. ; these being the current prices at the time 

 and place. 



Dr. — Cost of the cattle in the autumn, . . 75 00 



5 quarts corn meal, at 3 cents, 15 cents ; 4 quarts 

 broom meal, at 1 cent per quart, 4 cents ; 25 

 lbs. of hay each per day, at $10 per 2000 lbs. 

 12J cents ; 15-|-4+ 12^=31^ each per day, or C3 

 cents per day for both, for the term of 145 days, 91 35 



Interest on cost, 5 months, at 6 per cent. . . 1 87 



Commissions and drift to Brighton, . . . 4 00 



172 22 



Cr. — Supposed return 2300 lbs. at 5f cents per lb. 132 25 



Balance against the oxen, .... $39 97 

 9 



