SUPPLEMENT. 699 



th»t the great deTelopment ia the fresh-meat trade is essentially due to the great im- 

 provement made in the methods employed for the safe carriage of these articles over 

 long sea voyages. Dry air in cooled compartments of the ship is now used for the full 

 preservation of the meat, and this has now been brought to such points of perfection 

 that slaughtered meat can in these days be brought in sailing ships from the .Ajistralian 

 colonies and delivered to the English markets in excellent condition. 



A sudden perceptible decline on the other hand becomes apparent in the exports from 

 the United States, when prices at the close of 1881 at Chicago and through the first half 

 of 1882 met with an advance of some 40 to 45 per cent, on the better qualities of meat, 

 due in part to the loss of a large number of animals in several of the Northern States 

 during the previously severe winter, and more especially to the enhanced cost of feeding, 

 resulting from the bad cereal crops in the previous year. 



The chief effect of this largely diminished supply from the United States in 1882 was 

 a corresponding impetus given to increased supplies from other exporting cattle coun- 

 tries, so that even Germany in that year was found to take part in the export of slaugh- 

 tered meat to England. The imports of live stock into England from Denmark, as will 

 be observed from the foregoing tables, has been steadily and largely on the increase, so 

 that this country may now be considered as taking a prominent position in two of the 

 markets. During the latter years a much larger number of young animals have been 

 sent'away than was formerly the case, and at the same time it has to be noted that these 

 increased exports will be found mainly due to the larger exports of cattle in lean or half 

 fattened condition. In fact, it may be stated that the great change which has been 

 made is that in place of sending their cattle as in former years to the marsh lands for 

 fattening purposes, these are now sent to England, whilst the exports of fattened beasts 

 have not increased to any extent worth mentioning. It will undoubtedly seem strange 

 that a country like Denmark, which from olden times has been an agricultural and cat- 

 tle-raising land, has not made further progress in the lattening branches, whilst the 

 English farmer, within these times subject to a severe competition and pressure, only 

 disposes of his animals when in fully fattened condition, and which he must find out 

 without doubt is most to his advantage. 



The fatteiied beasts sent from this .country are forwarded by a limited number of the 

 most intelligent and enterprising of the farming classes, who have made themselves fully 

 acquainted with all the requirements of the English markets. The causes of this un- 

 satisfactory state of things are perhaps manifold. One of them without doubt will be 

 looked lor in the backward state of the root culture in this country, as fattening with 

 ^rain or other costly feeding stuffs can only become profitable up to a certain point. It 

 may also be partially due to the slow fattening properties of Danish cattle. And again 

 there are always to be met with large numbers of cattle dealers (the middlemen) travel- 

 ing through the agricultural districts, who exert all their influence to induce the farm- 

 ing classes to part with their live stock, and in this way, without question, a course of 

 fattening is too often interfered with. 



In the concluding remarks of the report the Danish agriculturists are at the same time 

 strongly recommended to give greater attention to the improving of their cattle breeds 

 hy introducing of good short-horn bulls for crossing purposes, as it would appear to be a 

 general complaint that the Danish breeds do not furnish an equal amount of meat, 

 neither do they fatten in so short a spacp of time as the short-horn breeds, and it has 

 farther been seen that more favorable prices have been obtained in the English markets 

 on the exports of crossed-bred cattle than for those of the pure Danish breeds; thus it is 

 mentioned that in the spring of last year, 10 J cents per pound was obtained at the New- 

 castle market for some beasts of cross breed, while on the other hand no more than 8 

 cents were realized for the animals of pure Danish breeds. 



HENEY B. RYDER, 



Unitkd States Consulate, Consul. 



Copenhagen, January 26, 1885. 



THE BELGIAN PROCESS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FRESH MEAT. 



INCLOSUBES IN THE CATTLE EEPOBT OF CONSUL TANNER OF VEBVIEBS AND LIEOE 



REPORT OF EIRST COMMISSION. 



We, the undersigned — A. Thiernope, member and secretary of the Academy of Medi- 

 cine, veterinary of the State; Professor Euge Courtoy, chemist; A. Eeul, repetitive at the 

 said school; A. Van Schelle, .avocat at Brussels, and J. Limbourg, veterinarysurgeon, in- 

 spector of the meat market atBrussels for the Government — members of a commission 

 constituted for a process for the preservation of fresh meat invented by Dr. Closset, of 



