No. 149.] 115 



ground at good prices. And also some additional premiums on 

 fat cattle and sheep ; say for the best fat steer from three to four 

 years old, and from two to three years old. Then for the best 

 fat wethers and ewes of various breeds, and also for the second 

 best. If the premiums were small, the exhibitors would be bet- 

 ter satisfied, and it would produce a larger show. 



Yours, respectfully, 



THOS. F. DEVOE, Butcher, 

 8 Jefferson Market. 

 Kew-York^ Oct. 18, 1850. 



Ox\ DPvIVING CATTLE. 



It was perceived at an early period in the history of the West, 

 that Illinois furnished facilities for raising cattle superior to 

 almost any other region in the States. And it is now coming to 

 be realized that no inconsiderable portion of tlie neat cattle 

 required for the markets on the sea board from Georgia to Maine, 

 come from that State; the prairies and bottom lands of which, 

 furnish exhaustless stores of feed ; and it is said cattle fatten 

 through most of the winter, on the pea-vine, buffalo-grass, wild 

 oats, rushes, &c. 



Stock cattle from Illinois have been driven into Lancaster, 

 Chester, and York counties, Pennsylvania, for about 17 years, 

 where they were fatted for the Philadelphia, New-York, and 

 Boston markets. Ohio and Indiana furnished these markets at 

 an earlier period. It is about ten years only, since the first fat 

 cattle w^ere driven from Illinois direct to the markets on the sea 

 board. Now that State furnislies from 15,000 to 20,000 head of 

 iat cattle per annum, direct to the markets from Baltimore to 

 Boston. 



Experienced drovers inform us, that droves of cattle should 

 never exceed 120 or 130 in number, and each drove requires the 

 constant attention of three men on the road. Unless compelled, 

 they should never be driven over eight miles per day, and it is 



