26d AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF chap. XIII. 



if, in rearing, proper care were taken to select 

 the handsomest both of males and females for 

 breeders ; and were the same attention paid to 

 feeding arid management, that there is in the 

 breeding counties in England, excellent as our 

 breed is at present it would soon be carried to 

 a much higher degree of perfection ; the folly 

 of introducing foreign and different kinds, and 

 of spoiling our own by crossing, would become 

 more apparent ; and the practice, at last, be en- 

 tirely abandoned. 



The number of milk cows in Fife may a- 

 mount to 10,000 ; and the whole stock of black 

 cattle annually kept, including lean cattle and 

 others brought from other counties by graziers, 

 may amount to, perhaps exceed, 60,000. 



The price of cattle has, for the lafh 5 or 6 

 years, been on the rise ; and though not so high 

 this year, as during the last 1 or 3 years, still 

 they bring a good price. It is difficult perhaps 

 impossible, to state the prices with such preci- 

 sion, as to render them intelligible to any except 

 such as are much conversant with the subject. 

 From 3 years old and upwards, the price varies 

 from 5 1. to. 20 1. according as they differ in 

 age, weight, kind, or condition. The follow- 

 ing average-prices for the laft 3 or 4 years, may 

 not be far from the truth. 



A calf properly fed for the butcher, 6 weeks 



* old, from - i 5 to 2 2 



If kept for rearing, and sold at'io or 12 



months old . 3 o to 4 o 



When 2 5 year's old, and sold fat - 4 o to 5 o 



When 3 years old, and kept for breeding, 



or to be laid on the grass to fatten 5 o to 6 6 



