THE

AGRICULTURAL MAGAZINE.

No, 1A] FEBRUARY, 1804.[Vor.K.

DESCRIPTION OF MR. WESTCAR'S PRIZE OX, WITH A PLATE'ANNEXED,.

N our Number LÜUL. we voticed the various animals which 1 obtained the prizes at the Smithfield Exhibition; and we Stated, that Mr. Westcar, was again the Successful candidate for the premium of 25 gulweas, assigned to the owner of.the best 0x of 160 stone or upwards.

The engraving which accompanies the present number, will, at least remind those of our Readers, who have Seen that ani- mal, of Some of bis admirable proportions; and. will Suggest to others, no very imperfect idea of the original.

Having, in our publication for Degember last, entered sv fully into the particulars of the shew of prize cattle, and on the qualifications necessary' for a breeder of this particalar Species, we think iL unnecessary to dilate further on the Subject.

The purchaser of tlie last prize ox, was Mr. Chapnian, of Fleet Market, and it weighed 266 stone; the present only weighed 231 st. 61b. and was bought by Mr. Giblett, of Bond Street. We Sincerely wish, that all our correspondents could bave a Sirloin,.as we, are confident that the firmness of the fleSh, the even covering of the fat, and the palatableness of the entertainment, would bea Stronger Stimulus to improve ment than all our dissertations on,the animal economy,

It will'be Seen by the beasts of he last Shew, that the pre- Judices of breeders and graziers are not 80 strong as.they were formerly in favour of 1he ponderous and gigantic Species, and we think the present opinion well founded*. E,.

* The following are Some concise deductions that have been made in favour of the present System.

1. A large animal“ requires proportionably more food than two smaller ones of the Same weight.

2. The-meat, of. the large animal is aot So fine grained, and eonSequently does not afford ſuch delicate food.

3» Large animals poach pastures more than small ones.

4. They are not s0 active, and consequently not 56 fit for working.

5. Small oxen can be fattened with grass merely, whereas the large re- quires to be Stall-fed, the expence of which exhausts the profit of the farmer.

6. It is much easier to procure well-Skaped and Kindly-feeding stock of& small Size than of a large one,

43. Mug. Vol: 10 M