BEEF AT THREEPENCE PER POUND.

To the thrifty housewife, to the striv- afforded by the importation of jerked beef ing artizan, and struggling tradesman, no from South America, and its retail in this less than to the hungry labourer, "beef country at threepence per pound. For, at threepence a pound" will sound like a cheap as this is, the manner of preparation, which consists in driving off all the moisture tricky announcement or a pleasant fable; and truly, did our space permit, it could deal cheaper than the price expresses. One by drying it in the sun, renders it really a great be shown that South American or Moute pound of the beef thus prepared contains Videan beef would supply material for a as much nutriment as three pounds of orchapter not the least startling among the dinary fresh or salt meat, and therefore the many "Romances of reality." Our pre-price really is equivalent to a penny a sent purpose, however, is to confine our-pound. And of this meat it is stated that selves mainly to the practical portion of from the River Plate alone two hundred the subject, giving only just so much in- and fifty millions of pounds, or enough to troductory matter as may interest our supply what is equal to thirty pounds of readers, and satisfy them as to the worthi- fresh beef to each head of our population, is awaiting export at the price stated. Thus, for half-a-crown a year, every man, woman, and child in these islands might have a dinner of half a pound of beef at least once a week throughout the year; and if it be suggested that such a new demand would certainly raise the price, it may be further remembered that the account we have quoted refers only to a single station of export, and that there are many others the market as soon as a market is found. which doubtless will be ready to come into

ness of our statements.

The illustrious and exiled poet, Victor Hugo, at his Christmas fête to poor children annually given in Guernsey, said that "The Commissioners appointed by the French Government had reported that the cause of the sickness and death of so large a proportion of the children of the poor was the want of nourishing food." The Daily News of Jan. 24, worthily following up the subject originated in its colurans at the end of last year, makes the new and bountiful supply must, of course, "The question of availing ourselves of this speech from which the above is quoted depend upon whether the article is palatthe text of an article, in which the cheap able as well as nutritious. But on this meat question is so admirably summarised head sufficient evidence seems to exist that that we make no apology to it or our it can at least be so prepared as to be highly readers for extracting largely from it :palatable. Dinners have been given in Edinburgh and Glasgow, at which the "It is undoubtedly the fact that the ma-meat, stewed in a variety of ways—it seems jority of at least our agricultural labourers to be impenetrable to mere boiling-has seldom see it except in the shape of bacon, been presented, and met with the approbaan article which in only an imperfect de- tion of both working men and of those of gree contains its essential qualities. And the wealthier classes who brought more as it is equally certain that with the price critical palates to the feast. It is stated, of meat now standing at from ninepence to also, that hotels have found it useful in fourteenpence the pound, no working men, communicating a richer flavour to soups except those in full employment, and earn and gravies. Scientific men have also exaing exceptionally good wages, can possibly mined it, and pronounce it to be perfectly purchase it in sufficient quantities for the well cured and thoroughly wholesome. due supply of their families as well as them- Being wholly grass fed, it is less fat than selves, the opening up of a source from the meat we are accustomed to in this which it may be obtained in quantities country; it is also of more mature age; almost illimitable, and at a price which and these facts account for the superior brings it within the reach of the poorest, is richness of the extract it furnishes. Whea prospect of which the importance and the ther the whole supply may be of equally far-reaching consequences can hardly be good quality and equally well prepared exaggerated. Such a source seems, from with what has already been experimented the statements which reach us, to be really on remains, of course, to be seen.

But a

great point is undoubtedly established when troduction here at the almost nominal rate it has thus been shown that it can be well at which it can be delivered would be one cured and imported into this country with- of the greatest blessings that could be conout detriment to its properties; for it fol-ferred on the British labouring population, lows that what can be done with a portion more particularly considering the progrescan be done with a whole, as soon as the sively increasing price of butcher's meat, attention of the manufacturers is called to and, unhappily, the correspondingly dimithe requirements of the market they are tonishing means of the multitude to obtain it. supply Nor, indeed, does there seem to The circumstance of there being twelve be reason for doubting that still better millions of horned cattle in Uruguay has methods may yet be brought into use, and been accepted as a 'great fact' in connec that the article may, by the use of air-tight tion with this cheap and excellent beef, and tins or similar contrivances, reach this has done much to popularise the Republic, country in a state more nearly approxi- alike with persons seeking a new field for mating to the form to which we are accus- their energies, and with those interested tomed." in the material welfare of the masses at home."

The introduction of dried beef into the United Kingdom is, we believe, mainly due to the efforts of the very able ConsulGeneral for Monte Video, E. B. Neill, Esq., to whose courtesy we are indebted for much valuable information and assistance. Those of our readers who visited the great International; Exhibition of 1862 may remember the samples of preserved

meat then shown in the Monte Videan
department, to which certain prizes were
awarded, and of which visitors showed
their high appreciation by tasting and
"in the raw state! Mr. Neill,
"eating up
writing to the authorities at Monte
Video (the capital of the Republic of
Uruguay), on the 24th July, 1862,

says:

And again, on the 8th of November, he
the Monte Videans against "glutting the
writes in a prophetic strain. He cautions
European markets, or sending the beef
in a crudely prepared state." "The highest
attainable excellence of quality," he writes,
the primary object with shippers."
at the lowest possible price should be

This caution was unhappily not suffi ciently heeded, and a few cargoes did arrive in an unsound state, and tended this much desiderated article of food and for a time to damage the reputation of commerce. It is to be hoped no more told, on the authority of Messrs. Steel and mishaps of the kind will occur, as we are Co., Glasgow, that in their district alone not less than five hundred tons have been sold during the last eighteen months, a corresponding consumption having taken place in the West Riding of Yorkshire and other districts. Since the publication of a paragraph in the Daily News on the last day of last year, communicated by the present writer, and since copied into nearly every British publication, an animated discussion has been carried on in the columns of The Times and other papers, and a depôt has been opened* for the show and sale of this beef, the demand so far having exceeded the means of supply. This, however, is a matter which will soon correct itself, As to and it is confidently believed by those who are best informed on the subject that when this food has settled down into a

"The dried beef has attracted a large amount of attention; and as a considerable number of the visitors have been allowed to taste it from the case, it has furnished one of the most popular subjects of conversation connected with the Exhibition. Many inquiries have been made, from many quarters, as to where it can be procured; and there cannot be a second opinion that a large trade in this beef might be carried on with this country, to whose markets the meat is well adapted, being as succulent and tender, and of as fine grain, as the best English beef. The fat is not in the least rancid, nor the lean stringy; while it is but very slightly salt; in short, it is free from all the faults that have hitherto prevented the extensive consumption in England of prepared foreign meats. the length of time it will keep, it is enough to say that our samples have been exposed to the air since the opening of the Exhibition, and what remains is as fresh and *South American Beef Company, 153, Cheappalatable as on the day of arrival. Its inside, London.