241

ON THE PREPARATION OF LIVE-STOCK AND MEAT IN REFERENCE TO THEIR EXPORTATION BY STEAM-VESSELS.

STEAM-NAVIGATION has already attained the object of its invention, to a greater degree of perfection than steam-locomotion by land on railways or roads. This perfection is, no doubt, in a great measure, to be ascribed to the favourable na ture of the element upon which steam-navigation is practised, -water presenting a level surface favourable to locomotion. The great specific gravity of water too, enables it to float a capacious vessel, containing within itself the motive power and the objects carried, as near as possible to the centre of gravity of the whole mass,-presenting a combination of arrangement highly favourable to its locomotion; and yet, notwithstanding these circumstances, so favourable to locomotion on the water, the speed acquired by steam-carriages on railroads has much exceeded that attained by steam-vessels. Twenty-four miles per hour have been accomplished by steam-carriages fully loaded, on level railways; whereas the highest rate of sailing by steamvessels with full cargoes, has seldom, if ever, exceeded thirteen miles an hour. This comparative slow rate of steam-vessels may easily be explained, on the principle of resistance which, in their progressive motion forwards, they have to encounter in displacing an element of so high specific gravity as water; whereas steam-carriages have only to displace the light attenuated air. This difficulty steam-vessels can never fully overcome. But the recent experiments with passenger-boats on canals, whose construction in avoiding friction has enabled them to increase their velocity to ten miles an hour, with a small moving power; and those constantly making on the form of paddle-wheels, reasonably inspire steam-navigators with the confident hope of discovering an improved form for steam-vessels, which will acquire a higher velocity with a diminished moving power, than they have ever yet attained ; whereas the impossibility of constructing

Higher velocities, we are aware, have been accomplished on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in short distances; but we question that trains of goods have ever been propelled 24 miles in the hour.

+ Could means be discovered of decomposing water easily, the ocean would

VOL. VIII.-NO, XXXVIII.

railways generally so level as water, and of dispensing with the use of wheels of small diameters in steam-carriages, compared with those of paddle-wheels, together with the bounding motion forwards of wheels at high velocities on railways, present almost insuperable barriers against steam-carriages attaining a much greater increase of velocity. The compact bulk of steam-vessels carrying large weights compared to those of steam-carriages with their lengthened trains, and the enormous expense of laying double lines of railways with offsets, amounting to L.50,000 amile, will ever render steam-navigation a mode of conveyance, whose cheapness for goods more than overbalances the advantages of higher speed on railways. To this advantage should be added, that of steam-vessels finding at all times, an easy, readymade access, into every port on the coasts of all maritime nations.

These circumstances have hitherto enabled, and, we think, will still continue to enable, steam-navigation to confer benefits on agriculture, to a much greater degree than steam-locomotion on railways. One of these benefits is, that of conveying livestock and slaughtered meat to markets in distant ports with expedition and safety. These and other products of the farm are sent weekly to the English markets from various parts of Scotland, and the more distant the part is situated from the English markets, the greater the benefit does steam-navigation confer upon it. Eggs, poultry, and other produce, are now reared and collected in the Western Isles for Glasgow and the markets on the English coast, and, were the railroads completed betwixt Liverpool and London, it is not improbable that fresh Loch-Fyne herrings may be served up on the breakfast table in the metropolis every morning. But it is Ireland which has derived the greatest benefits from steam-navigation, benefits which no system of railways could have conferred upon it; for, but for it, the markets of England would be as inaccessible now, as they formerly were to Irish farm-produce. The importance of such markets may be inferred from the amount of farm-produce from Ireland, annually imported into the principal shipping ports on the west coasts of England and Scotland from Glasgow to Bristol, and which almost exceeds belief. It is pleasing to the patriot to be assured, that this great increase in farm-produce has not arisen afford to vessels an inexhaustible supply of hydrogen gas, of high elastic powers, and of oxygen, the supporter of light and heat.

from increased privation to the peasantry of the necessaries of life, but from actual improvement in the fertility of the soil, attained by superior modes of culture, and from the happy change effected by the farmer in directing his attention more to the cultivation of live-stock, which the humid and mild climate of Ireland is better capable of rearing, than crops of corn successively for years on the same ground.

The intercourse between Ireland and Britain, which steam navigation has encouraged and established, has not failed to impart activity, just dealing, and knowledge of the world to the Irish character. Formerly, it was thought enough by the Irish farmer to prepare small quantities of grain, butter, or salted provisions for the dealer who went his rounds at stated periods, and who never failed to aggrandize himself by the plunder of the poor farmer. Oppression in this respect was then exercised to an injurious extent. Now the farmer can take his produce to a seaport, if he be near one, and dispose of it at the current market price, or if he be too distant for that, he has a better knowledge of its value. The dealers having more competitors, and being more thrown upon their individual skill, display greater activity Some of them purchase stock in the country, and fetch them for sale to the Smithfield market in Dublin; others purchase their stock in that well frequented market, which is held on Thursday, ship them for Liverpool on Friday or Saturday, and dispose of them there either on Monday, or send them to Manchester on Wednesday, and return again to Dublin in time for the market on Thursday. In this manner many of them, clad in humble garb, turn over large capitals every week, some buying to the extent of eighty to one hundred head of cattle and scores of sheep; whilst others must confine their purchases to half a score of pigs; a cargo of live-stock, not unfrequently belonging to perhaps not fewer than a hundred such individuals. Besides for live-stock, there are large and petty dealers in eggs, butter, poultry, fruit, &c., who make weekly voyages to dispose of their purchases in the English markets. We believe the greatest proportion, if not the whole, of this carrying trade is in the hands of Irishmen. And such is the force of national feeling in them, that they will only intrust their own countrymen as agents to dispose of their goods in the English markets.

Besides activity, this intercourse has improved the character of the Irish farmer and dealer in just dealing. The farmer, although sensible of the oppressions of the dealer, and the latter desirous of extracting from him large profits, yet both endeavoured at first, by adulterations and deceptions, to circumvent the English purchaser. The natural consequence of such unjust dealing was the return of the articles on the hands of the disposers. Frequent losses incurred by this just retribution, have taught each of them to prepare his commodities according to the taste of the market which he frequents. They are now both sensible that it is only the fair and honest dealer who obtains the readiest market, and the best price for his commodities.

Moreover, this intercourse has taught both the Irish farmers and dealers a knowledge of the markets of Great Britain. They are now both aware that their butter must be unadulterated and better in quality than grease; that their eggs must be fresh ; that their fowls must have something more upon them than bones and feathers; that their cattle, and sheep, and pigs, must be composed of more enticing materials than skins and bones, before they will find purchasers in the English market. The Irish breed of pigs, fifteen or twenty years ago, was as far removed from excellence in points, as the liveliest imagination can conceive. They are now much superior in form, and were they fed on as good food as the English or Scotch pigs, the Irish pork and ham would acquire as high a character in the market as the British. The condition of Irish cattle and their quality as to breeding have much improved of late, for bulls of the most esteemed breeds from Britain, particularly Short-horns and Devons, have been imported for the purpose of judicious crossing with the native breeds. Flocks of Leicester sheep have also been imported from England, and the effect of the deep and rich pastures of Ireland in increasing the weight of their wool and mutton may now be witnessed any week in the markets of Dublin and Liverpool. Formerly the beef trade in Ireland was chiefly confined to the curing of beef for the navy and army, and colonies, and during the existence of this trade, the farmers suffered severe hardships and losses from the exactions of the contractors. Now, in conjunction with the curing trade of both

beef and pork, which is still open to the Irish farmers by competition as before, but on a better footing, the British markets are thrown unrestrictedly open to their live-stock. The increase of live-stock in Ireland in numbers, weight, and quality, since steamnavigation opened the English markets, is already unprecedented in the annals of any other nation; and were the cultivation of turnips universally adopted in that country, and to which there exists no physical impediment, its whole stock might at all seasons be sent in the highest condition to this country; and thus the profits of the grazier and feeder might be enjoyed by the breeder himself. British capital thus finding its way in return cannot fail to stimulate the exertions of the breeder, and reward the industry of the cultivator. So favourable an opportunity as this never before presented itself to the landlords of Ireland, to improve simultaneously the condition of their land and their small tenants, by giving a proper direction to this capital, and prompting their tenants to adopt the best system of husbandry, and participate in the advantages derived by the larger tenants, in the proved excellence and certainty of the English markets.

Scotland has long enjoyed similar advantages. Like Ireland she is enabled by the perennial pastures of her hills and glens, to rear much more live-stock than her scanty population can consume; but unlike Ireland, in being joined to England by land, she has enjoyed that advantage from time immemorial, and since the Union, in perfect safety. Droves of cattle have thus for a long period found their way into England, where they have been fattened on rich pastures, and rendered fit for the metropolitan market. It is probable from the insular situation of the Western Isles, that the fine cattle reared there have long escaped contamination from crossings with the coarser breeds of the mainland, and been held in security from the marauding excursions of the predatory bands which used to molest the farmers in the plains. The surplus stock reared by the small tenants of these isles were clubbed together in droves and purchased by dealers from England, who met them on the road. These droves were placed under the guidance of a confidential person well practised in the sale of cattle, and who on his return home, divided the cash amongst the farmers in proportion to the size and value of their lots, and deducted the necessary