368 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



quantities of the bonded corn, soon reduced prices to the former standard. 

 The demand for money was so pressing, that the threshing machines, which 

 had been crippled by the insurgent labourers, were repaired and set going, in 

 order to expedite the supplies. Barley, also, has been unusually plentiful at 

 market, with the prospect of considerable decline of price, even for those of 

 the finest quality, notwithstanding its scarcity. Oats, a plentiful home- 

 grown crop, are deluging our markets by the aid of enormous imports from 

 Ireland, reducing the price much below that which can be afforded by the 

 British farmer. 



Cattle and Sheep experience a demand in the country markets, with, per- 

 haps, some advance of price. As to Pigs, they are usually on the alert, 

 although such herds are constantly imported from Ireland. Cattle, where 

 confined to the rotten straw of last year, have done badly : abroad, with the 

 daily assistance of a moderate quantity of good hay, they have thriven, as if 

 in the spring. But we have heard, with much satisfaction, the opinion of 

 several West-country graziers, that it is a great help to the improvement of 

 cattle wintered abroad, to take them up by night to the homestall. The 

 neglect in the material point of shelter, with both sheep and cattle, is one 

 great defect in the practice of the British farmer. We have lately heard of 

 several wet-land farmers, who have rotted their sheep in three successive 

 seasons. In former days, this misfortune, in great part the result of erro- 

 neous practice, was common and ruinous. Sheep, during the present season, 

 have done well on dry land and sound turnips. Lambing commenced with 

 the present month, chiefly with the South-Downs and New Leicesters. We 

 have as yet heard no complaints. The labour-rate, it is said, is under expe- 

 riment in the western counties, with immediate relief; but the alleged defect 

 is, that all being comprehended, the worthless and idle are employed at equal 

 wages with the most meritorious. 



We have received a very pleasing account, from a friend who was present, 

 of the dinner at Norwich, given for the exhibition of the portrait of T. W. 

 Coke, Esq., of Holkham, intended to be placed at the upper end of the Corn 

 Exchange, by the side of that of Mr. Culley, the once eminent cattle breeder 

 and author in that line. Mr. Coke had the late eminent Mr. Bakewell for 

 his preceptor. ' The great Coke of Holkham' but why not yet Earl of 

 Leicester ? is the man who has made blades, not of grass, but of CORN, to 

 grow where none grew before. We rode over those barren (almost) wastes 

 of Norfolk, which Mr. Coke describes as not worth a rent of half-a-erown 

 per acre, when he first succeeded to his estates, in the year 1769 ; and our 

 then young eyes noticed them, as we now well recollect. With Mr. Coke 

 originated the" great and wonderful improvements of Norfolk now one of 

 the granaries of England. 



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

 3*. lOd. Mutton, 3s. 8d. to 4s. 6d. Veal, 3s. 4d. to 5s. 4d. Pork, 3s. 6d. 

 to 5s. 6d. dairy. 



Game at Leadenhall little difference in prices from our last. Hares very 

 plentiful, and reasonable. Pea- Fowl, very fine in quality, at 12s. each. 



Corn Exchange. Wheat, 42s. to 62s. Barley, 21s. to 34s. Oats, 12s. to 

 23s. London Loaf, 4lb. 8d. to Qd. Hay, 50s. to 80s. Clover ditto, 60s*, 

 to 115s. Straw, 25s. to 30s. 



Coal Exchange. Coals in the Pool 13s. to 17*. per ton. 

 Middlesex, Feb. 25. 



