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X. — Statistics of Live Stock and Dead Meat for Consumption in 
the Metropolis. By Robert Heubert. 
For many months past the all-important (jucstion of production 
and consumption of stock in the United Kingdom has formed 
the topic of serious discussion amongst all classes of society. 
On the one hand, it has been contended that there is an absolute 
scarcity both of beasts and sheep in the country ;) on the other, 
that this scarcity is the result of a system of feeding which is 
calculated to keep prices at an unusually high range. When 
we consider the great interests involved in the subject of produc- 
tion, the enormous demands upon the resources of our graziers, 
and the rapid increase in the population, together with the in- 
creasing prosperity of the industrial classes, this question requires 
more than ordinary attention at our hands. In the first place 
then, let us inquire into the causes which have led to the recent 
excitement in the demand for beasts, not only in London, but 
throughout the provinces ; and further, whether the grazing 
community have not acted upon a false principle, which may 
eventually be prejudicial to the interests of the consumers. 
Now it may be assumed that not a few of our original breeds 
have fallen off considerably in number even in our best districts ; 
but at the same time it may be remarked that they have given 
place to a race of animals cross-bred, chiefly between the Scots 
and Short-horns. In point of fact, crossing has now become 
so general, that fully half the beasts disposed of in our various 
markets consist of other than pure breeds. That the new 
system has paid remarkably well is quite evident from its rapid 
extension, and from the enormous weight which the crosses 
have attained in a much shorter period than the pure-bred 
animals. 
Early maturity — so long aimed at by the largest breeders 
— has certainly made such progress as to awaken inquiry, if 
not anxiety, regarding the future existence of those races of 
stock which for so long a period have supplied our enormous 
consumption. We have observed that early perfection in beasts 
has yielded large profits. On this head no doubt can possibly 
exist ; but the question is, has it produced an increased supply- 
of really consumable food ? Our impression is that, although 
most of the crosses, especially those from Scotland, have yielded 
large quantities of fat, still if we take any given number of 
beasts, and compare them Avith breeds which were disposed of 
some fifteen years since for slaughtering purposes, the weight of 
meat has not diminished in consequence of the increased amount 
of fat. 
How, then, it may be asked, do we account for the present 
