444 
Agricultural Maxima. 
" The two points of most interest in this case are — 1st, That, though killed 
at one year and ten months old, the beef was of first-rate quality ; and, 2nd, 
that the proportion of olfal was unusually small. I had on several previous 
occasions found that animals well fed from the time of their birth weighed 
more in proportion to their measurement than those which had been kept in 
store condition for a year or two before being fattened, and the above-men- 
tioned steer furnishes so striking an illustration of the fact, as to deserve more 
liarticular mention. The early maturity of this ox had excited some interest in 
the neighbourhood of my farm, and I requested four or five good judges of 
cattle to give me their opinion as to his weight. I also had him measured and 
weighed. The estimates of his dead weight, grounded upon his apjjearance 
and handling, on his measurement and on his live weight, did not vary ma- 
terially from one another, and the highest estimate did not exceed 64 stone 
(imperial). He was sold for Christmas beef at 9s. per stone on his estimated 
weight, and realized 29?. As he was bought by a neighbouring butcher, my 
bailift'had the opportunity of seeing him after he was slaughtered, when he 
was found to weigh nearly six stone more than was expected. I have never 
found the estimates of good judges of fat cattle, especially when fortified by 
the measuring-tape and the weighing-machine, to be far wrong, except in cases 
like this — of liberal feeding from the time of birth and early slaughtering. In 
all such instances where I have had the opportunity of verifying the dead 
weights, the animal has weighed some stones more than had been anticipated. 
I am satisfied that, as a nde, we do not commence feeding our cattle sufficiently 
early. By fattening them young, we turn over our capital quicker ; they are 
fattened at less expense, because they eat less ; and we learn from this and similar 
cases that the beef is as good, whilst the offal is less than in beasts of greater 
age." 
2. The following are well-authenticited instances from the 
neighbourhood of Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, given to me by Mr. 
J. Algernon Clarke, (a) In 1846 Mr. John Clarke fed a long- 
wooUed ewe to the weight of 65-| lbs. a quarter, (i) The same 
gentleman had a long-woolled ram which clipped 51| lbs. of 
wool in 3 years, averaging therefore IT^ lbs. a fleece, (c) Mr. 
John Bush, farmer, Long Sutton, in 1859, grew 92 bushels of 
mangold-seed on 3 roods of land, equal to 120 bushels per acre. 
These are to be taken merely as instances of the yield possible 
in the several cases. No history has been sent in connection 
with them. 
3. The following is a case of a somewhat similar kind given 
to me by Mr. E. Evans, of Boveney Court, near Windsor, who at 
the time of its occurrence resided near Wigan, Lancashire. In 
1842 Mr. Charles Holmes, of Orrell Hall, near Wigan, grew 
435^ bushels of beans (60 lbs. per bushel) and 12 tons Q\ cwt. 
of straw on 5a. Or. 13p. of land, being 85| bushels of beans 
and 48^ cwt. of straw per acre. 
4. Mr. Blundell, of Bursledon, Southampton, an active mem- 
tumed out with other calves and feeding cows until the following October; when 
it was taken in and received as much cake, meal, cut swedes, and hay as it would 
eat, along with a portion of Simpson's Food daily for the last six months. It was 
not turned out again from October 1858 ; being in altogether about 14 months. 
