Anxious to clear up some of the doubts respecting the increase of animals, and the relative advantages of soiling and grazing, I undertake to make the following experiments, the result of which I shall not offer as conclusive, but as leading to more extensive trials. In the course of the present year I am proceeding with the feeding of two of each of the following breeds of cattle :

Short-horned.

Long-horned.

Hereford.

Sussex.

Glamorganshire.
Galloway.

I was greatly disappointed in my endeavours to pro cure both Devons, and some of the best Scotch cattle. The experiment is made on two-years-old heifers. The weight and value of food, together with their progressive increase, will be regularly stated. To make such an experiment satisfactory, the breeders of the various stocks should agree in furnishing the cattle; as it is otherwise extremely difficult to procure the best specimens. The cattle are not fed for the purpose of fattening solely, but to show their increase on a plan of feeding, that will leave a profit to the farmer. To gain a pound of meat, at double its worth, cannot be an object worthy of either individual, or public attention. One fact is already clearly ascertained, that the increase of animals is neither according to their original weight, nor to the food consumed-unless I am incor

rect

rect in estimating the advance of value on the lean weight, there is no comparison between a Highlander and any other stock. The Kylo appears to increase with half the consumption of food, as much as any other breed of cattle.

I had an opportunity of proving Dr. Walker's correctness, from an experiment made by a gentleman at Sunderland, who imports Scotch sheep, and feeds them five to an acre, for two years; they average, when lean, 13 lb. per quarter, and feed, in the two years, to 23 lb. per quarter, gaining 40 each, which gives 100 lb. as the product of each twelve months per acre. Had the same pasture been fed with Lei cester sheep, they would have gained double the weight.

PRINGLE on the Diseases of the Army, states the nourishment contained in one ounce of animal food to be equal to what is derived from twelve ounces of ve getable.

Granting this to be correct, the comparison of the nourishment produced by grazing, and from the growth of grain, would be as follows: Two hundred pounds of animal food obtained from an acre of grass land, would be equal to two thousand four hundred pounds of wheat, or the growth of two acres.

The alteration of the Corn laws in 1773 operated still further to decrease the quantity of corn grown, by creating a competition of foreign grain in our markets; and that at a time when the profits on grazing were already greater than on growing corn. Every burden which the necessities of the state

have since imposed has been a direct tax upon the plough, and consequently operated as a bounty on converting land from tillage to grazing. The increasing demand for workmen for our manufactories has united with other causes to enhance the price of labour, and operated as a further check upon agricul

ture.

The great acquisition and general diffusion of wealth have had the effect of increasing the number of pleasure horses. The very improvements in agriculture have made a larger proportional number of horses necessary, which has been further increased by the obligation of performing a great deal of work by horses, not only from the want of labourers in some districts, but also from the advance in the price of labour. The additional number of pleasure and agricultural horses has been the means also of consuming the produce of a considerable portion of the best acres in the kingdom, and has had a powerful influence in diminishing the growth of bread corn.

I am confidently of opinion that a million and a half of acres might be spared from the pastures appropriated for the support of horses and cattle, and applied to the production of grain. In confirmation of this persuasion, I beg to state in the first place what I conceive to be the quantity of land employed in the maintenance of the various descriptions of horses. By the returns of the Tax-office, we are enabled to ascertain with tolerable accuracy the number of horses in Great Britain.

The saving which might be made in feeding of cattle

must

must rest upon conjecture, as we have no aecurate criterion. The trials I have made, justify the supposition of its admitting of very great retrenchment.

The number of horses that are entered and pay the duty, amounts to 1,178,000, as appears from the returns of the Tax-office; and if we add those exempted as belonging to the army, &c.; and make allowance for the occasional evasion of the tax, we shall not much err in taking the total number of pleasure horses at two hundred thousand: nine hundred thousand and upwards of husbandry and draught horses are entered; and making the proper allowance for exemptions, and for such as may not have been returned, we may, I conceive, fairly estimate them at one million-Suppose then,

Of the six millions of acres employed in feeding horses of various descriptions, suppose them to be divided between pasture and grain, allowing four mil lions under grass, and two for oats, I conceive, upon a moderate estimate, that a twentieth part might be spared by feeding draught horses upon potatoes, carrots, and straw, instead of hay, and soiling them in summer; by which a saving of three hundred thousand acres might be made.

There

There is no object of greater national importance than the reduction of the number of horses kept for pleasure, and the transport of goods. From our inexhaustible resource of iron, it would be highly advan tageous to have iron rail roads in every direction where there was any considerable transport of goods.

In the last year, I shall have made a saving of the work of thirty horses in my coal-works, by laying iron roads upon inclined planes. Ten years ago this great and important reform was suggested by my friend and agent Mr. Swinburne, but unfortunately it was not attended to, till the expense of horse labour became so enormous as to compel me to resort to every mode of retrenchment. The same plan may, in various cases, be adopted with equal advantage.

This would make so great a saving, supposing it general, that the horses so employed, as well as those for pleasure, might fairly be made an object of a still further taxation. Should the population of the country be at any period so increased, as to find a difficulty of obtaining employment, then the tax might with pro➡ priety be extended to husbandry horses. Manual labour so much surpasses the most perfect mechanical operation, that it will at all times insure a great superiority of crop.

If it be correct, that there are twenty-four millions of acres in pasture, deducting four millions supposed to be required for horses, there would remain twenty millions for the pasturage of cattle, &c. Does it admit of much doubt, that (by feeding milch-cows, and fattening cattle with green food, both summer and win

ter,