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trivial as not to be worth consideration. Most persons are apt to view 

 the stock on their own farms with a partial eye, and to fancy they are 

 belter than they really are ; by attending the cattle shows they find out 

 their mistake, and take such measures as are likely to improve the 

 animals they breed, and to be more particular in their purchases for 

 feeding, by buying a better sort then they had been accustomed to do, 

 which may be fed (as I have before noticed) at less expense than inferior 

 ones can be. The perfection of all animals is this, to prodnce the 

 greatest quantity of food for man, having consumed the least quantity 

 of food themselves. As the best breeds of animals of the present day 

 come so much earlier to maturity than the old breeds could be brought 

 to, as the older an animal is the more it eats, I am persuaded a given 

 quantity of meat may be produced from the best animals now bred 

 which have not consumed above two-thirds, and perhaps not more than 

 one-half, of the food that those of former times did to produce the like 

 quantity; the present occupiers of the land are thus enabled to keep an 

 increased number, and send a greater supply of animal food to market, 

 and this surely must be a great national benefit. Lord Althorp very 

 properly prohibits in his prizes for sheep the feeding with oil cake, corn, 

 or any other artificial food, that the sheep may not be shown in an un- 

 natural state; his Lordship also makes the same prohibition as to 

 beasts up to the first of August, the time allowed by the Smithfield 

 Club for oil-cake to be given to the beasts shown for the Smithfield 

 prizes ; and as most of the best beasts which have been exhibited at 

 Brampton are afterwards shown at Smithfield, his Lordship accom- 

 modates his regulations to theirs. 



I think the feeding of sheep at all times of the year (except giving 

 them a little corn in a very severe winter, when turnips are not to be got 

 at, or are spoiled by the frost), ought to be confined to hay and green 

 food ; summer and autumn-fed beasts also ; but as beef is very seldom 

 met with too fat for tfie generality of people, although it may be for 

 your correspondent, and as oil- cake so much expedites the stall feeding 

 in winter, it may then be given to advantage, if the price of beef will 

 allow the use of such expensive food. Most persons formerly sickened 

 at the very sound of oil-cake, but that prejudice is now nearly done 

 away with; three-fourths or more of the finest beasts that go up to 

 London to be slaughtered in the winter, have had oil-cake given them 

 with other food, and no where is beef met with so fine as in London ; 

 and as oil-cake is produced by taking away the oily particles from lin- 

 seed, I do not see why any person should attach any disgusting ideas to 

 such a vegetable substance being given as part of the food for beasts. 



In the hope that I may have answered your correspondent to his satis- 

 faction, and given such explanations as may appear intelligible to those 

 of your readers who take an interest in Agricultural pursuits, without 

 having tired their patience, or taken up too much of your Paper, 



I remain, Sirs, your's, &c. C. HILLY ARD." 



