4 
Relative Profits to the Farmer from 
which rose in price to an exorbitant point. By 1870, however, 
cattle were again on the ascendant, and sheep, though of fair 
value, were much lower than in 1866—67. Since then sheej>- 
markets have varied rather more than cattle-fairs, and the fleecy 
tribe has not increased in numbers so notably as cattle. Indeed, 
in Ireland, the head of sheep is less than it was in 1869, though 
about as great as it was from 1870 to 1873. 
" Of sheep in Great Britain there were, according to the annual 
returns, 28,919,101 in 1867, and 30,711,396 the following year. 
The decrease was steady, until only 27,119,569 were returned in 
1871. The next three years there was a gradual advance, which 
brought the total to 30,313,941 in 1874. Last year, however, 
the number had receded by 1,147,802. Ireland in 1867 had 
4,826,015 ; in 1871 it had 4,228,721, and in 1874 the numbers 
were 4,437,613 as compared with 4,248,158 in 1875. The 
total number of sheep returned in 1875 in the United Kingdom 
was 33,414,860. 
Horses in Great Britain decreased considerably between 1869 
and 1873. The numbers in the former year were 1,461,061, and 
in the latter, 1,276,444. This number was some 20,000 more 
than in 1872. Stimulated by the extraordinary prices obtainable 
the last few years, farmers have resorted to breeding ; but though 
the horse-stock is getting numerically stronger year by year, it 
is still under the figures of 1869. Last year there were 1,340,129 
horses returned. In Ireland horses became more numerous from 
1869 to 1872 ; but since then there has been a diminution. The 
first-mentioned year had 527,248 horses : the last, 540,745. By 
1874 the numbers were reduced to 526,587, and in 1875 to 
526,160. The total for the United Kingdom last year was 
1,866,289. 
Though pigs do not come within the scope of my report, it 
may be mentioned that they are not now so plentiful either in 
England, Scotland, or Ireland, as they were nine years ago, accord- 
ing at least to the only available statistics ; though in Ireland 
there was last year an increase of 150,049 on the numbers of 1874. 
The quantity of beef and mutton annually produced in this 
country has increased greatlv within the last thirty-five years. 
The following statistics (p. 5), of the number of cattle shown, and 
the prices obtained at the London Christmas-market, will give 
some indication of the progress which beef-producing has made, 
and of the great advance which has taken place in prices. 
The rise in numbers, it will be seen, was steady, with a few 
exceptional years, from 1841 to 1863. In the latter year there 
was an excessive supply, and in consequence many unsatis- 
factory results were obtained. Since that year the display has 
