Agricultural Maxima. 
443 
The following cases, given as a preliminary illustration of the 
kind of information desired, are necessarily a mere collection of 
particulars, each complete in itself, but without relation to its 
neighbour. When a larger number of instances shall have been 
collected, it may be possible, by arranging them according to 
such circumstances as they possess in common with each other, 
to read some general truth in their details ; for the present, 
however, no arrangement of them has been attempted. Our 
object has been simply to place on record a number of well- 
authenticated occurrences of the kind, whether explained or not 
by such history as is given of them. 
1. Mr. H. S. Thompson, M.P., of Kirby Hall, York, informs 
me that, in December, 1856, he sold a fat steer of the short-horn 
breed, which had been calved in January, 1855, and was there- 
fore just over 22 months old when killed. It weighed then 69 
stones 10 lbs. (imp.). The cow, having been crippled by rheu- 
matism, was allowed to suckle her calf at grass until it was 6 or 
7 months old, with the hope of bringing her round. The calf, when 
about 6 months old, had a fall, and either broke its shoulder or so 
damaged it as to be exceedingly lame from that time forwards. It 
Avas fed when in the fatting-house on cut food, turnips, hay, and 
cake, and sold for 29/. at 22 months old. How far this is beyond 
ordinary and even extraordinary experience, may be gathered from 
the following instances sent to me as maxima from the north of 
Scotland : — Mr. John Collie, of Ardgay, Elgin, has two yearling 
cattle of the polled Aberdeenshire breed, 17 and 18 months old 
respectively, which girth 6 ft. 9 in., and are 4 ft. 6 and 4 ft. 3 in. 
long respectively — averaging, therefore, according to the usual 
formula, and supposing them " moderately fat," 48 stones (imp.) 
each. Mr. John Hunter, of Dip pie, Fochaber, has a 20 months'- 
old cross-bred bullock, between short-horn bull and polled cow, 
girthing 7 feet, and weighing, according to measurement, 54 
stones (imp.). Little instruction can be gained by comparing 
animals of different breeds, unless information be also given of 
the food they have respectively consumed; but the Aberdeen- 
shire breed is not inferior to the short-horn in the size of the 
full-grown animal, and these instances do therefore serve to 
mark out the case of Mr. Thompson's steer as an agricultural 
maximum.* That gentleman writes me as follows : — 
* Since this paper has been in type, Mr. Richard Shirley, of Bawcott, Mimslow, 
Shrewsbury, has sent me the following particulars of his fat Hereford steer which 
carried off the Gold Medals at the last Show (Dec. 1859) of the Smithfield Club 
and of the Midland Counties Association. His age when slaughtered was 2 years 
6 months and 27 days; and his carcase weight was 87 stones 6 lbs. (imp.) It 
sucked its dam until 5 months old, and, being then weaned, was put with others 
in a yard ; receiving cut swedes, straw, and hay until one year old. It was then 
