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As it is now admitted, by all who understand the 

 subject, that Cattle Shows have been very instrumental in 

 bringing about the great improvement that has been made 

 in the breed of the sheep and cattle of this country, 1 have 

 little to add on this subject. The annual meeting of (he 

 Northamptonshire Farming & Grazing Society, and Cattle 

 Show, is always held at Earl Spencer's farm, at Brain plon, 

 four miles from Northampton, either on the Wednesday or 

 Thursday before Doncaster Races. Some years, as many 

 as a dozen of the London Christmas Show of Beasts, have 

 been previously shown at Brampton. Last year, there 

 were six, three of which gained prizes. 



MEASUREMENT OF CATTLE, to compute the weight 

 of the carcass, when slaughtered. This, for many years I 

 have been in the habit of doing with great success. In the 

 year 1814, I printed, to circulate among my friends, a book 

 to show the weight of animals, by measuring their girth and 

 length ; and in a preface explained the necessary attention 

 to be paid in the measuring. The late Dr. Woolaston formed 

 from my book, for Lord Althorp, a sliding scale rule, which 

 is to be had at Carey's, in the Strand, and which, as it will 

 measure the very largest of beasts, is preferable to the book. 

 The measurer should be a sufficient judge of beasts to 

 know whether they are marketably fat or not ; and also 

 something of their proper formation, so as to be capable of 

 forming a just opinion whether they are proportionably 

 heavier or lighter in their fore quarters than in their hind 

 quarters, and of making such necessary allowance in com- 

 puting the weight from the book or scale. I gave Carey the 

 printed directions of my book, for the sliding scale. I wish 

 now to say, in addition to the preface to my book, that if a 

 beast is more than marketably fat, about 2^ per cent, may be 

 added to the computed weight in the book ; and that if the 

 beast is made so fat as to become a show beast, 5 per cent, 

 may be added. I have generally found that the Durhams, 

 from being more fleshy, prove according to their dimensions 

 when quite marketably fat, somewhat heavier than the 

 Herefords. In justice to the Hereford breed, it should be 

 observed that well-bred and well-shaped store Hereford 

 oxen and steers are to be had in great plenty ; but that really 



