AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



456 



Instead of an advance in the price of wheat and other farm produce, 

 which was expected to take place in the spring, the reverse seems more 

 probable ; for which, indeed, many obvious causes seem to combine. The 

 live-stock ofthe farm is the only species which can possibly make a pro- 

 fitable return ; but, unfortunately, too many farmers have been under- 

 stocked. Good beasts carefully wintered have sold well. As to horses, 

 the story of years past may be very properly repeated good oneo, or the 

 first class of every description, are ready money at a very high price; those 

 of the second class are more easily come-at-able, and the last or or- 

 dinary kind a mere drug; yet even these are not to be had at the low rates 

 which we have formerly known. Pork and bacon, which for years had 

 maintained such an extraordinary price, and commanded such a ready 

 sale, have, since last Michaelmas, suffered an equal depression thanks to 

 the unwearied exertions of the breeders and feeders of Ireland ! the most 

 flourishing commercial country of Europe, in the opinion of a noble lord. 

 No doubt need be entertained of a sufficient supply of pork from Ireland, 

 after the following statement: "Between the 4th and the 10th inclusive 

 of this month, were imported from Ireland to Liverpool, 6806 pigs, also 

 464 cows, 144 sheep, 96 lambs, and 19 horses." The supply ofthe 10th, 

 however, at this immense mart, is styled in the letter before us a scanty one ; 

 business very brisk, a considerable advance in price took place, and scarce- 

 ly any thing remained unsold. Beef, 5|d. to 6^ per Ib. Mutton, 7d. to 8d. 



The lambing season is nearly finished, more prosperously of late than at 

 the commencement, when & considerable number of both lambs and ewes 

 were lost, the latter chiefly from the disease known by the name of the 

 heavings a disease which we never actually witnessed in sheep, but in for- 

 mer days, greatly to our loss and sorrow, in pigs ; and, in all probability, 

 the present writer, in the course of nine or ten years, lost more pigs by 

 that disease, than many other man living. It is not so difficult, whether 

 in pigs or sheep, to ascertain the cause of this disease, as to find a cure ; 

 but a substititute may be found, which is prevention. A very able and ex- 

 perienced flock-master, westwards, attributes the heavings in ewes to 

 injudicious feeding immediately before parturition, or it may arise from 

 the injury the constitution ofthe ewes may have received from being win- 

 tered in wet and heavy turnip lands, up to the belly in mud and dirt. The 

 early loss of lambs is said to have been atoned for by the unusual number 

 of twin lambs. The wool market is rather at a stand, but the nominal 

 prices remain the same, and will probably continue so until the next 

 clip. Ofthe state ofthe hop-grounds we have yet received no informa- 

 tion. The import of foreign wheat, except to be bonded, has entirely 

 ceased since last harvest. Seeds and flour only are imported for market, 

 whilst the exports of wheat and flour from London and Liverpool are 

 rather considerable. There will be fine shelter for game upon the lands 

 during the present spring, promising a successful breeding season. Lord 

 Althorp's bill for the repeal of the house-tax will come into operatian from 

 the 5th of next month. 



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

 3s. 6d.; Mutton, 2s. 4d. to 3s. Ipd.; Lamb, 6s. 4d. to 6s. 8d.; Veal, 3s. to 

 4s. 8d.; Pork, 3s. to 4s. 4d.; Dairy do. 5s. Game of the season at Leaden- 

 hall in sufficient plenty, and at reasonable prices. 



Corn Exchange. Wheat, 38s. to 58s.; Barley, 24s. to 30.; Oats, 15s. to 

 23s. The London loaf, 4lb. Hay, 50s. to 84s.; Clover do. 65s. to 95s.; 

 Straw, 30s. to 36s. 



Coals in the Pool, 14s. to 17s. 9d. per ton. 



Middlesex, March 25. 



LONDON : BAYLIS AND LEIGHTON, JOHNSONW'OURT, FLEET-STREET. 



