92  The  Cost  of  Winter  Grazing  in  East  Norfolk. 
“ We  think  nothing  of  a difference  at  this  time  of  the  year  of 
3Z.  or  4Z.  a bullock  ” ; and  again,  “ Mr.  B.  always  buys  the  best 
bullocks  he  can  lay  his  hands  on,  and  he  is,  and  has  been  for 
some  years,  esteemed  very  justly  the  best  grazier  in  this 
neighbourhood.” 
From  the  same  authority  we  find  that  the  greater  weight 
and  feeding  value  of  smaller  roots  closely  grown  was  thus  early 
realised,  though  some  farmers  are  even  now  sceptical  on  these 
points.  Mr.  Marshall  quotes  two  authorities  who  were  always 
attentive  to  their  hoers,  to  see  that  they  did  not  set  out  the 
plants  too  thin,  attributing  “the  good  proof  of  turnips,  chiefly 
to  their  thightness  ” (f.e.,  closeness  on  the  land). 
As  to  the  comparative  value  then  of  Irish  and  home  bred 
stores,  nine  of  the  former,  bought  at  St.  Faith’s  fair  (October 
17),  seven  at  seven  guineas  each,  and  two  at  six  guineas  apiece, 
were  again  sold  at  Smithfield  in  the  beginning  of  June,  four  of 
the  smallest  at  16/.,  and  the  remainder  at  18/.  and  upwards. 
“ This,”  Mr.  Marshall  adds,  “ is  probably  the  greatest  grazing 
that  ever  occurred  in  the  county.  Much,  however,  depends  on 
the  choice  of  a bullock  for  fatting.  The  Norfolk  farmers  know, 
or  pretend  to  know,  whether  a bullock  will  grow  during  the 
time  of  his  fatting  ; and  it  is  the  bullock  which  grows  and  fats 
at  the  same  time  which  leaves  most  profit  to  the  grazier.” 
The  specially  good  return  made  by  home  breds  is  reported 
as  follows  : “Nine  beasts  sold,  one  for  10/.,  the  rest  for  about  9/. 
apiece,  so  that  in  less  than  seven  months  they  more  than 
doubled  their  cost,  paying  about  8s.  2\d.  a week,  which,  not- 
withstanding their  high  price  as  stores,  is  great  work  for  a 
bullock  of  less  than  40  stone,  and  shews  in  a striking  manner 
the  value  of  the  Norfolk  breed  of  cattle.” 
As  to  the  indescribable  something  which  makes  the  good 
judge,  Mr.  Marshall  rightly  adds,  “ a thick  skin  is  a favourite 
point  in  Highland  cattle  : and  there  may  be  other  points 
symptomatic  of  a growing  bullock,  but  1 am  apprehensive  that 
a good  grazier  forms  his  judgment  from  general  appearances, 
and  from  intuitive  impressions,  rather  than  from  particular 
marks  and  signs  : and  I am  of  opinion,  nothing  but  continued 
practice  and  close  attention  can  make  a man  a judicious  grazier.” 
The  Middle  Man. 
The  margin  of  profit  on  winter  grazing  being  so  small  and 
uncertain,  and  the  roots  grown  for  this  purpose  being  the  most 
expensive  crop  to  produce  in  the  four-course  shift,  all  possible 
care  must  be  taken  to  keep  down  as  much  as  possible  all 
incidental  expenses  connected  with  the  sale  and  purchase  of 
the  bullocks.  The  usual  commission,  if  a middleman  be 
employed  either  to  buy  in  or  sell  out,  varies  from  five  to  ten 
