132 Statistics of Live Stock and Dead Meat 
we believe that very few graziers are to be met with who, from 
past experience, would run the risk of endeavouring to fatten 
foreign stork upon any description of land. A few ventures have 
been made by large agriculturists, but they have nearly all 
resulted in a heavy loss. It may appear somewhat surprising 
that foreign stock generally will not fatten in this country ; but 
so it is. Some of our best foreign beasts — those imported from 
Holland — are peculiarly liable to disease ; and, moreover, during 
the three months prior to their shipment, are principally fed 
upon grains and distillers' wash. The stock derived from abroad 
since the commencement of the year has not improved either in 
weight ov condition, but has mostly carried a large quantity of 
internal fat, and consequently met with a ready sale at apparently 
remunerative prices to the owners. Some remarkably fine-looking 
beasts have come to hand from Spain, and been disposed of at 
an average of 21/. each. One extraordinary animal, 135 stone 
in weight, realised 30/. This, we believe, is the highest sum 
ever obtained for a Spanish bullock. This description of stock, 
however, is still described by the butchers as weighing " as light 
as cork ;" hence none but good judges are inclined to purchase 
it. There has been an importation of beasts from the northern 
departments of France. Most of the animals were eleven years 
old, and had evidently been worked lor several years, as they 
were without a particle of good or consumable food on their 
backs. Astonishment was expressed here that their owners 
should have endeavoured to find a market for them in this 
country. This stock had the largest barrel we ever saw ; and 
two of the oldest beasts were 5 feet 11^ inches in height. If the 
French graziers desire to find a profitable market in London, 
they must send us something superior to this stock, which 
appeared to have been most injudiciously fed. 
The Avonderful success which has this year attended the fat- 
tening of beasts in Norfolk and Scotland has had the effect of 
keeping down prices to a comparatively fair level. Those 
recently realised, even allowing for the high currencies paid for 
store animals during the greater portion of 1860, must have 
proved a source of profit. Some of the best Scots and crosses 
have sold at 5s. Ad. per 8 lbs., and some prime Herefords and 
Devons at 5s. per 8 lbs. The cross-breds received from Norfolk 
and Scotland have come to hand in admirable condition — a 
proof, we conceive, that where the system has not been carried 
too far, it is an improved mode of production. The future price 
of beef will much depend upon the power of the Lincolnshire 
graziers to furnish London with a supply. The " season " has 
opened extremely well, with about 1500 bullocks in very prime 
