384 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



and fourpence, leaving a profit, with the under stock, 

 of about five pounds fifteen shilUngs and sevenpence, 

 supposing the beast to increase in the above manner, 

 and to be sold at the prices stated. The usual profit 

 is, however, somewhat less, as a fifth or more. But 

 in the smaller sorts of neat-cattle stock, even ad- 

 mitting their increase in weight to be in the same pro- 

 portion, they will not afford the same amount of pro- 

 fit ; they have, however, other advantages ; they take up 

 less time in completing their fatness, and are capable of 

 being made fat on poorer sorts of land ; and, by their be- 

 coming fat more easily in the summer, they gain better 

 prices in the markets. Their use and advantage, what- 

 ever they may be, and their increase in weight, will, 

 however, most probably be the best shown by stating 

 that an ox of this size, weighing about sixty stone, 

 of fourteen pounds, bought in at fourpence the pound 

 for the whole or living weight, or double that price for 

 the dead or carcase weight, which will be about four- 

 teen pounds ; the increase in weight in four months 

 keep, being about one hundred and eighty pounds, or 

 about eleven pounds in the week, the animal will be 

 worth twenty pounds, or thereabouts, and pay from 

 seven to eight shillings the week for its keep. The charge 

 of fattening, in this case, in the first cost of the beast, 

 the rent of the land necessary for the purpose, allowing 

 the same extent as before, the taxes, and the interest 

 of capital, is about seventeen pounds ten shillings and 

 threepence, leaving a profit with the under stock of 

 about three pounds nine or ten shillings each beast 



In some districts, in times when the prices are mo- 

 derate, and the sorts favourable in their dispositions 

 for fattening, lean oxen are bought in at two shillings, 

 or two and threepence the stone, the weight which they 

 will reach when they are fat, or from threepence to 



