22-4 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i. 



.CHAPTER XIIT. 

 OF THE SALE OF CATTLE. 



HAVING now stated the leading facts, and the experiments that have 

 heen made, on the subject of feeding and fattening neat cattle, we 

 shall conclude this division with a few remarks on the sale of beasts, 

 when properly prepared for that purpose. In order to ascertain this 

 point, the following hints may, perhaps, afford some assistance. First, 

 when the general appearance of the animal shows high condition, and 

 each bone is covered with flesh in the manner required to constitute as 

 perfect a degree of symmetry as can be attained by a thoroughly fat 

 animal, it may be concluded that the beast is well fed ; especially when 

 his hip and huckle-bones are round, and his ribs, and flanks, and rump, 

 and buttocks well filled up, and his scrotum or purse largely developed 

 and round. The ends of the fingers should be pressed upon him in 

 various parts, on the ribs, the hips, the rump, and the purse. If there is 

 an evident elasticity of these parts, and they spring back when the fingers 

 are removed, that mingled firmness and softness, well described by the 

 term " mellowness," exists, and this is a sufficient assurance that the 

 flesh is of thoroughly good quality. It is of consequence that this 

 examination should take place ; for animals which possess these 

 qualities will alone find a sale in the metropolitan market, or possess 

 that state of health which will enable them to support the journe} r they 

 are soon to undertake. 



After all the attention and labour, however, which the grazier may 

 have bestowed, his expectations will, to a considerable degree, be dis- 

 appointed, unless he selects a proper time for the disposal of his fat 

 cattle. The most common season for beef is from Michaelmas to 

 Christmas ; but the markets are then more abundantly and more 

 cheaply supplied than at any other period, because cattle that have 

 been fattened on luxuriant pasture grounds are then ready for sale, and 

 many farmers are under the necessity of raising money in order to meet 

 the demands of the close of the year. Hence the attentive grazier, 

 who has sufficient capital to hold his stock over, will find it most bene- 

 ficial, at this time, to dispose only of such part of it as, being thoroughly 

 fat, would not pay for longer keeping. The increase of prices in the 

 spring will generally be found to remunerate him well. During the whole 

 of December large heavy cattle are in much request at the Islington 

 Metropolitan Cattle Market, and will produce remunerative prices ; but 

 at other times they hang on hand, and fetch an inferior price. Middle- 

 sized handsome cattle, or those not exceeding seventy or eighty stones, 

 will find the most ready sale. Under forty stones there is a prejudice 

 against them, unless the meat is particularly good. 



In drawing off lots of cattle for sale, it is the general practice to 



