Report ou the American and Canadian Mad Trade. 343 
quence of variations in soil and climate over so large an area as is embraced 
by this Dominion, it is exceedingly difficult, if not quite impossible, to get at 
the precise cost of rearing and fattening cattle and sheep so as to occupy a 
good position in British markets. The Province of Ontario, even, differs con- 
siderably in its capabilities of rearing and fattening livestock; the south- 
western portion of the peninsula possesses in this respect great advantages. 
" Since the receipt of your letter, I have made enquiries of several of out- 
most intelligent and experienced farmers as to the actual cost of producing 
fat beef and mutton of good quality in this and the more western portions of 
the province. From their statements, it would appear that improved cattle, 
reaching maturity at three years old, may be reared and well fattened for market 
at a cost of from $3 - 50 to $1-25 (14s. to 17s.) per 100 lbs. live weight, and 
fat sheep on an average for about $3 - 50 per 100 lbs. live weight, the value of 
the wool paying to a large extent the cost of keep and management. 
"The following statement of the actual cost of producing well-fattened 
cattle, suitable for the English market, was communicated by one of our most 
enterprising breeders of fifteen years' experience : — 
" Raising, feeding, and attendance of cattle the first year, per head $24 "00 
„ „ „ „ second „ 18 '00 
third „ 24-00 
" Total cost of fat beast weighing 1600 lbs. . . (13?. 4s.) 66 • 00 
This would be about $4 '121 (16s. 6c?.) per 100 lbs. live weight. 
" Our principal shipping ports for this province are Montreal in the summer, 
and Portland, in the State of Maine, during winter. But few live cattle are 
shipped during the severe months of the latter. From Toronto to Montreal, 
the cost of transport of cattle by railway will average $2'50 (10s.) per head, 
and for sheep 60 cents (2s. 6r7.). One man is usually sent with every 20 or 
''.o head of cattle, whose business it is to feed and look after them. The 
food, supplied by the owner, consists principally of hay and crushed grain. 
From Montreal to London or Liverpool, the usual cost by steamer is, for 
cattle, $35-00 (11.) per head, and for sheep, $7'50 (30s.), the ship only 
finding water. Dressed meat is taken from Toronto to Montreal, at $50'00 
(10?.) per 20,000 lbs., and to Portland for $75-00 (15?.). 
" With reference to the extension of the trade from this Dominion, much, 
of course, will depend on the prices that may obtain in the old country. If 
farmers here can, on the whole, only realise a moderate profit, it will be much 
to their interest to use all practicable means for extending the trade, which 
will afford them what is so much needed — an increased supply of very valuable 
manure. Much of our old arable land has of late become seriously deteriorated 
by continued cropping with grain ; and wheat in particular, hitherto our prin- 
cipal staple, has of late become a precarious production. Our soil and climate 
are generally well suited to the raising of hay, turnips, and most other roots, 
and in the south-western portion of Ontario maize admits of profitable culti- 
vation, and can be raised in large quantities. Flax, too, succeeds well, but it 
is not yet much used for feeding purposes, and the same may be said of oil- 
cake. These products, so essential to the healthy growth and fattening of 
increased numbers of cattle, sheep, and pigs, of improved breeds, can no doubt 
be produced in sufficient quantities to meet any demand that may arise in the 
future. 
"The live stock of the country is constantly increasing, and the improve- 
ment in quality of late years, especially of cattle, sheep, and pigs, has been 
quite remarkable. We have now a number of fine, pure-bred herds, particu- 
larly of Durhapts, whose blood is to be found, more or less, in much of the 
ordinary stock of the older-settled districts. Our sheep, principally long- 
VOL. XIII. — S. S. 2 B 
