1801.] On the Smithfield Prize Gattle. 385

afMixed thereto, For this part of their entertainment the public are highly indebted to his Grace the Duke of Bedford, who, in conſequence of ſome very laudable and judicious experiments which he had made upon this animal, in the courſe of this yearz was induced to ſend bither théſe carcaſes for general inſped&ion. I did not hear many particulars reſpeSing theſe experiments, but what I did hear were very curious, extraordinary, andá well deſerving of general attention. His Grace, it ſeems, had col- le&ted(of courſe at no ſmall expence), in the month of March, 2 certain number of every diſtin breedof ſheep that is to be met with in Great Britain. His firſt obje& was, to try how each fort would bear hard or ſhort keep; he accordingly ordered them to be turned into an incloſure, at the rate of fourteen ſheep to an acre.‘The weight of each was accurately taken at the time of turning in; and again, at certain periods, cach ſpecies Was weighed, to aſcertain its improvement or loſs. ¿And“ frange to tell,’ the large breeds were daily increaſing in ſubſtance, during their ftarvation, whilſt the ſmall ſheep were almoſt con- ſtantly ſuffering loſs. Contrary to the expectation of every ones the South Down breed bore this ſhort allowance worſe than any other ſort, even worſe than the new Leicefters, though they were very much out of cauntenance with it. The Glouceſter- ſhire ſheep gained during this part of the trial, which extended from March to the month of Auguſt, each 23lbs. in weight; the Durham breed, 22lbs. each; and the Lincolnſhire, about 20lbs. each. Theſe are three of the largeſt and longeſt woolled breeds in the Kingdom, and will, after a few more ſúch experi- ments as this, become more faſhionable, I truſt, than they have been of late.

In the month of Auguſt, the aforeſaid variegated flock was indulged with a good paſture, and then the ſmall breeds came forward, took the lead, and in general Kept it, till they were conſigned to the ſlaughter-houſe, about the gth of the preſent month.

I hope bis Grace(who, I am informed from the beſt authority, has leſs prejudice, and almoſt as great judgment as any man, 1 live ſtock in general), will not feel entire ſatisfaQtion in this ſingle experiment, but will hereby be ftimulated to proceed to others of 2 ſimilar nature. lam“no friend to mere| ſpegulation and theories; but ſuch trials as the above, and others, which it is well known that his Grace is making(with the affiſtance of the ingenious, experienced, and cautious Mr. Cartwright) in every branch of agriculture, upon more than 2000 acres of very poor land,- reaſon itſelf cannot but approve, and the'community will, ſome time or other, admit and acknowledge as a debt.

W hat new regulations the Smithfield Society have made for next year’s fhew bave not tranſpired, I am, yours,

Piccadiliy, Dec: 194 ES LON.