AGRICULTURE OS THE RII1>^E. 140 



The calf alone sells for 5 florin?, or about 95. Until 

 they are four weeks old, the calves get nothing but milk : 

 in the fifth week they get hay, and, in good farms, oat- 

 meal mixed with the milk. Calves intended for the 

 shambles are universally slaughtered within a week after 

 their being dropped. The price of veal, instead of 

 rating higher than that of beef, is consequently much 

 lower. Veal may constantly be bought at 3d. per lb. 

 when beef rates at 4d. per lb. 



The cost of rearing the Dutch and short-horned breeds 

 to the third year is calculated as follows, on good farms : — 



If we turn this amount of forage into money, at the 

 following prices— 



320 lbs. milk, at hd. per lb. . 

 192 cwts. hay, at Is. 8d. per cwt. 

 147 lbs. meal , . • 



£17 1 7 

 It is here apparent that the small breed that has the run of 

 the mountain-pastures, and which does not cost its owner 

 more than 5/, at three years old, is a more marketable 

 article than the heavier beasts reared in stables at the 

 cost here stated. The drovers from the manufacturing 

 districts bring down about 1000 fat beasts annually from 

 theWesterwald, averaging 48 to 50 stone, which cost them 

 61. Gs. to 71. 7s. a-head. The fat cattle on good farms 

 average 12 to 15 cwt. The feeding has become matter 



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