The  Cost  of  Winter  Grazing  in  East  Norfolk.  1)3 
shillings  a beast.  The  profit  arising  from  fatting  that  beast 
may  thus  easily  be  absorbed,  but  so  much  depends  on  the 
quality  of  the  stores  procured  that  it  is  better  to  pay  for  the 
services  of  a capable  man  than  to  rely  upon  one’s  own  judg- 
ment, if  that  be  faulty  and  uncertain.  I have  previously 
referred  to  the  custom  of  “ putting  in  ” bullocks,  and  this 
method  is  generally  adopted  by  those  who  are  short  of  cash 
or  credit,  and  several  good  judges  of  bullocks,  with  plenty  of 
capital  at  their  command,  make  a lucrative  business  out  of 
sending  (or  “ putting  ”)  in  cattle  to  consume  their  neighbour’s 
roots,  at  so  much  a head  or  so  much  a week. 
Printed  forms  containing  the  conditions  as  between  dealer 
and  grazier  are  in  vogue,  and  are  signed  by  both  parties  to 
the  contract.  A large  proportion  of  graziers  hereabouts  fat 
bullocks  on  such  terms  at  about  3s.  per  week.  Perhaps  half 
of  our  graziers  buy  their  own  stores,  while  the  other  half  pay 
some  one  else  a commission  to  purchase  for  them,  or  else  have 
beasts  put  in  to  consume  what  roots  they  grow.  More  of  this 
latter  procedure  goes  on  than  is  generally  supposed,  the  ten- 
dency being  for  tenant  farmers  to  rent  more  land  than  they 
have  capital  for,  knowing  that  they  can  always  be  accommo- 
dated in  this  manner.  Most  of  the  small  farmers  commence 
business  in  this  way. 
Markets. 
Norwich  Castle  Hill  is  the  centre  of  the  great  beef  industry 
of  the  Eastern  Counties,  and  is  the  largest  market  for  store 
cattle  in  England,  beasts  being  brought  here  from  all  parts 
of  the  United  Kingdom.  According  to  the  official  returns, 
last  year  (1908)  was  a record  season,  no  less  than  95,439  store 
cattle  passing  through  the  market.  32,632  fat  bullocks  changed 
hands,  but  this  was  464  less  than  in  1907.  The  market  toll 
for  the  latter,  as  well  as  for  the  bulls,  is  ?>d.  per  head,  and  for 
stores  and  cows  2d.  The  total  fees  received  at  the  cattle 
market  were  put  down  as  2,065Z.  last  year,  showing  a profit 
to  the  Corporation  of  about  1,000^.  The  market  opens  from 
November  to  February  inclusive  at  8 a.m.,  and  closes  at  4 p.m., 
and  during  the  remaining  months  the  hours  are  from  6 a.m. 
to  5 p.m.  Formerly  the  cattle  market  was  held  on  Tombland, 
but  there  seems  no  record  of  when  it  was  moved  thence  to  the 
Castle  Hill.  In  early  times  beasts  foi-  sale  were  probably  kept 
on  the  Town  Close.  The  earliest  charter  was  granted  by 
Edward  IV.  in  the  first  year  of  his  reign,  and  is  dated 
February  12,  1461. 
It  is  greatly  to  be  desired  that  drovers  should  be  licensed, 
as  this  would  be  of  miich  assistance  in  further  curtailing  the 
unnecessary  cruelty  to  the  cattle,  though  there  has  been  a very 
noticeable  improvement  in  this  respect  since  the  R.S.P.C.A. 
