84 KALM'S ENGLAND. 



not in such a year wait for the third mowing, but as 

 soon as the meadows have been carried, and the hay 

 either taken into London or stacked at home, the cattle 

 are slipped into them to get their subsistence from the 

 grass-stub on the meadows. As they have few animals 

 themselves, they either hire out these meadows which 

 have been mown to butchers in London, who pay them 

 handsomely by the week for each animal, be it ox or 

 sheep, which has freedom to go there to bait, i bet, or, 

 as they mostly do, they buy up at the markets a number 

 of thin oxen or sheep, which they can commonly get for 

 a moderate price. These they drive on to their 

 meadows, where they have to go and become fat, till 

 towards January or February, the time of year, namely, 

 [T. I. p. 471] in which the places lying farther from 

 London could not supply it with fat cattle ready to 

 slaughter, and the cattle or beasts of slaughter are con- 

 sequently dearest ; then these farmers sell them to the 

 butchers with considerable profit. A great number of 

 establishments in London keep their own horses, but as 

 they have no need of them in the winter they keep them 

 at some of these farmers, and pay three or four shillings 

 a week for each horse, which is a long way cheaper for 

 them than if they were to buy hay and keep them in 

 London in the stable. As there is an untold number of 

 horses kept in the stable, it is not wonderful that hay is 

 very dear there, especially at some times of the year, of 

 which these farmers situated near to London are well 

 able and know how to avail themselves. And so it may 

 from this be easily understood to what extent, huru 

 vida, the meadows alone are sufficient to earn for them 

 and their households, food, clothes, and everything that 

 they require, and to give them power to pay their heavy 

 rents without loss. 



