Statistics of Live Stock and Dead Meat. 
413 
most nutritious, and ending witli the least valuable lor I'eeding 
purposes : — 
1. Poa-liaulm. 
2. Oat-straw. 
3. IVan-straw M'itli the pods. 
4. I?arl(>y-stra\v. 
5. AN lioat-straw. 
6. Bean-stalks without the pods. 
lioijal AgricaUural College, Cirencester, Dec. 1861. 
XVllI. — Statistics of Live Stock and Dead Meat for Consumption 
in the Metrojjolis. By Robert Herbert. 
Tub metropolitan market has been well supplied with beasts 
during the last six months, and the quality of most breeds has 
exhibited a decided improvement ; the beef trade has continued 
in a healthy state, and prices have ruled remarkably steady. 
That the past has been a favourable season for the production of 
stock is evident from the condition in which the beasts have 
come to hand. The most important feature in the supplies has 
been the unusually large number of crosses which week by week 
have made their appearance. Not that there has been any falling 
off in the pure breeds, but that the increase in our enormous 
consumption has, in a great measure, been met by cross-breeds 
well suited to first-class consumption, or indeed quite equal in 
quality to the best Scots. Doubtless the comparatively high 
juices at which beasts have been disposed of during the last two 
or three years have stimulated production generally in the 
United Kingdom ; still it is gratifying to find that, although the 
policy of cross-breeding has been much contested, it has proved 
highly remunerative to the grazier, and placed the country in a 
much improved position as regards a full average supply of really 
consumable meat, without justifying the apprehensions of those 
who were jealous for the maintenance of the pure breeds. We 
find the system at present chiefly carried on in Scotland, Norfolk, 
Suffolk, and in some parts of Lincolnshire. 
The market has of late exhibited another important feature, 
from the fact that nearly a moiety of the stock exhibited was 
composed of beasts under two years old. Though young they 
have " died " w ell ; they have produced high currencies ; and, 
from their large proportion of prime meat, assisted butchers in 
carrying on their business at a profit : otherwise the best joints 
of meat would, no doubt, have realized great prices ; inferior 
cuttings must have sold at a loss from want of an adequate 
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