240 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



prices offered for stores in the Autumn ; and their speculation affords a pro- 

 bability of success, since cattle, and sheep particularly, wear the appearance 

 of a rising market. As to the latter, they have not not done well in England, 

 excepting upon the driest grounds, the constant moisture of the atmosphere, 

 ever inimical to sheep, giving rise to the apprehension of a new edition of 

 the rot. We hear nothing yet of the early lambing season. The hop trade 

 continues dull for the reason assigned in our last, and if wool be rather more 

 inquired after, we hear of no advance of price ; should an advance take place, 

 it would speedily be met by an importation from the continent. Pigs con- 

 tinue to fetch a good price, and the speculation is, that horses of the superior 

 kinds, from their never-failing paucity, will be worth even more money than 

 during the last season. 



The old story is still current, of a larger breadth of wheat sown than in 

 any former season, with the addition that, the motive most prevalent 

 with the farmers, is the large sum with which that crop furnishes 

 them. The fall of price, and stagnation in the wheat market before Christ- 

 mas, that most expensive and rent-paying season, was a heavy blow upon 

 the country, already ruinously depressed. Considerable loss and inconve- 

 nience were also experienced by the obligation to use the flail, a slow mode of 

 taking advantage of the market at a critical time. We need not wonder that 

 all letters from the country are querulous and desponding, the case of the 

 majority of those engaged in agriculture, is really lamentable ; its causes, to 

 those who know and reflect obvious ; the crisis inevitable. In the mean- 

 time, they who are engaged, can do no otherwise tban quit, or wait the 

 event. 



Let no British farmer delude himself with the vain expectation of 

 new laws in opposition to the import of bread-corn. It has ever been 

 periodically necessary, and from the vast increase of population, it is 

 now, and probably must continue, indispensable. We have listened to cer- 

 tain high-flown declarations about growing corn enough for the consump- 

 tion of the country, could the growers be assured of a remunerating price. 

 But how stood the matter when wheat was seven or eight pounds per quar- 

 ter ? We, however, should rejoice to witness such a noble attempt, the first 

 and best step towards which would be clearing our land from weeds, and 

 growing corn in their stead. As to the necessary process for removing this 

 expensive nuisance, our language affords the best and most instructive book 

 on the subject, and universally known, though it be more than a century old. 

 Its practice has long, though partially, been adopted by our best and most 

 successful cultivators. Neither the names nor nature of weeds are of one 

 farthing consequence ; their existence is the matter at issue. 



The Dead Markets, by the carcase, per stone of 8lbs. Beef, 2s. Od. to 

 3s. Sc?. Mutton, 2s. 2d. to 4s. Od. Veal, 3s. Od. to 4s. 8d. Pork, 3s. 4d. 

 to 5s. Od. 



Game at Leadenhall nearly the same as last month. 



Corn Exchange. Wheat, 44*. to 64s. Barley, 22s. to 34s. Oats, 15s. to 

 24s. London Loaf, 4lb. 6d. to 8^.-^Hay, 60s. to 84s. Clover ditto, 70s. 

 to 100s. Straw, 28s. to 32s. 



Coal Exchange. Coals in the Pool 15s. to 20s. per ton. 

 Middlesex, Jan. 21. 



