THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



except porkets. Upon the whole, we Jo not despond ; but as 

 things become a little more settled, we look for a reasonable 

 advance in all farm-produce, and trust that the new-year will 

 be one of the most satisfactory we have known, for this 

 reason — the abundant yield can be afforded at a moderate 

 price; so that the consumer and producer are alike benefited. 



WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE.' 



The continuance of mild weather since the last report 

 affords but little for comment upon that subject. There 

 has been an increased quantity or rain during the last ten 

 days, but every operation is in such a state of forwardness 

 that no interruption or incnnvenience is experienced. The 

 •wheat is looking beautiful, perchance too luxuriant ; and 

 a check to its vegetating progress will come opportunely, 

 providing it does not occur when the spring is 

 far advanced. Frost would now prove seasonable 

 and acceptable to the land and the stock ; for 

 although there are not at present complaints worth 

 notice, the health of animals would be promoted by a 

 more bracing atmosphere. The veidant state of the pas- 

 tures offers temptations to keeping cattle in the fields, yet 

 the homesteads are far more suitable to their healthy con- 

 dition. The cold state of the grass at this season of the 

 year, saturated with wet, is not conducive to condition —a 

 most important consideration. This is one of the weakest 

 points in the management of many of the dairy farms in 

 this district. It is too much the custom to keep the stock 

 upon grass as long as there is any for them, with a view 

 to the saving of the hayricks ; if it keeps them alive, little 

 respect is paid to their future state, and great loss is sus- 

 tained in the spring, the early production of cheese runs 

 short, and the middle of summer arrives before the cows 

 supply that abundance and quality of milk that are essential 

 to profit. Nor is it the cows of mature age only that suffer 

 by sucii treatment ; the young stock become emaciated 

 during the winter, contracting too diseases which are often- 

 times incurable. It is very gratifying to observe that the 

 potatoes have not gone off in the store-pits to anything like 

 the extent complained of in many parts of the kingdom ; 

 this, it may be mentioned, is not an extensive potato growing 

 cnunty — there are few cultivated beyond the requirements 

 of the grower. As yet, no preventive that can be depended 

 upon has been discovered as an antidote to the disease; 

 but the best results appear to be attendant upon the follow- 

 ing practice : To work the ground intended to be planted 

 with potatoes in the autumn, or at the latest in October or 

 November, and at the same time apply the manure. Prepare 

 a compo.-t of lime and soil, or lime and vegetable refuse ; 

 when the proper season arrives for planting the potatoes, 

 furrows are opened to receive them, and a moderate portion 

 of the compost scattered in the furrows, which are after- 

 w-ards filled up with the ordinary soil. This method appears 

 to be more successful than using fresh lime. Farm-yard 

 manure placed in the furrows where the potatoes are 

 planted, or artificial manures of any kind, are exceedingly 

 prejudicial. The very early planting of potatoes has been 

 adopted by way of experiment as a preventive of the disease 

 with questionable success ; it produces a precocious faculty, 

 which interferes with the important property of keeping. 

 Potatoes planted in February or March will evidently arrive 

 at maturity earlier than those which are planted in April or 

 May. They will consequently send forth their shoots the 

 following spring, at a time conformable with their maturity ; 

 and at this period there are many of the early-planted pota- 

 toes of last year which have sent forth shoots several inches 

 in length. Continuing to plant them early year after year 

 evidently creates constitutional precocity. The apples ap- 

 pear this year to have caught an infection similar to the 

 potato disease ; great complaints are made of their rotting 

 extensively and rapidly in the heaps, be'ore they were made 

 into cyder. This will most probably have an injurious elFect 

 upon the beverage ; indeed, there is a good deal of it that 

 already tastes tainted. Every succeeding year produces 

 improvements in the exhibitions of fat stock, whether it be 

 at the emporium of hardware, the great metropolis, or in 

 the provincials— so say the reports, and there is no cause to 

 impugn the veracity of them. The splendid shows of Christ- 

 mas fare fully confirra the high encomiums which have been 

 awarded to the living exhibitions. Adopting the old saw 



"that the proof of the pudding is in the eating," we will 

 leave those to award the final judgment who are more deeply 

 skilled in gastronomic excellences afterthe culinary art has 

 been displayed ; and hoping that all our friends have en- 

 joyed their Christmas dinners with the fullest measure of 

 epicurean satisfaction, that they will award to the farmer 

 the just meed of praise for his toils, his troubles, and his 

 anxieties. This, upon the whole, has been a prosperous 

 term, for which the agriculturists ought to be truly grateful ; 

 and in wishing them a happy new year, we will express a 

 fervent hope that it will be as propitious, or more bo, 

 than the past. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, 

 FAIRS. &c. 



BANBURY FAIR.— It was not quite so full aa we have 

 seen. However, the quality of the cattle on sale was of the 

 first character. Mr. Brickwell, of Overthorpe, exhibited a 

 splendid ox, which was very generally admired. There was a 

 moderate demand, the average price obtained being about 43. 

 4d., although prime beef sold as high as 5s. per Slbs. 

 Mr. Caless sold by auction, in the fair, four prime Hereford 

 oxen, and one three-year-old heifer, from his own stock, at aa 

 average of 35Z. each. The supply of mutton, though not ?reat, 

 was equal to the demand, aud sold from 4s. 4d. to 4s. 8d. per 

 Slbs. Fat hogs sold from Ss. 9d. to 93. 3d. per score. There 

 were but few good horses on sale. 



BEDALE FORTNIGHT FAIR.— We had a good show of 

 stock, which sold at reduced rates, and a portion unsold. 

 Mutton aheep were well sold. Lean stock and in-calviog cows 

 were inquired for, but could not reach the figures they had 

 been accustomed to do, having gone down from 10 to 12 per 

 cent. Beef, 63. to Ts. per stone ; mutton, 5Jd. to 6|d. per lb. 



LEDBURY FAIR- Was very scantily supplied with all 

 kinds of stock, excepting store pig?, of which there was a good 

 supply. Sales ruled rather dull. Pigs did not realize so much 

 money as at former fairs. Fat cows might be quoted from 

 6^rl. to 7d. per lb. ; sheep, 6jd. per lb. 



PENRITH FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— There was a 

 very heavy supply of fat. Prices were down. Sheep fell as 

 much 83 43. or 5s. a-head, aud cattle, of which there was a 

 moderate show, were down 23. or Sa. par stone. 



PRESTEIGN FAIR was well supplied with stock of all 

 descriptions. Prime fat cows realized 6d. to 6^d. Lean stock 

 was a drug in the market. Fat pigs may be quoted at 48. 9d. 

 to 53. per 121b3. Small and store pigs about half the price 

 they were twelve mouths ago. There was a good supply of 

 fat aheep, but prices had a downward tendency. 



SHIPSTON-ON-STOUR.— There was a numerous attend- 

 ance of dealers, with a good supply of stock, both store and 

 fat. Stores fetched low prices, aud trade very dull. A number 

 of Irish cattle exhibited for sale were driven away unsold. 

 Beef realized from 6^d. to 7d , and mutton averaged the same 

 price. A pretty brisk trade was done amongst fat stock. On 

 the whole the fair was well attended, and a good deal of 

 business transacted. 



SHREWSBURY FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— The 

 show of stock was more than usually thin, with the exception 

 of pigs, which were penned in large numbers. Beef ranged, 

 according to quality, from 5^d. to 6Jd. per lb. Fat calves, ia 

 some instances, made 6^d. per lb. Cows and calves, of which 

 there were but few, sold readily. Lean stock met with little 

 demand. Mutton realized from 6|d. to 7|^d. per lb., according 

 to quality. Fat pigs fetched about 5d. per lb.; stores were 

 nearly unsaleable, and much lower in price. 



STRATFORD-ON-AVON FAIR.— There was a very good 

 show of fat stock, and a large attendance of buyers ; but owing 

 to the higb prices asked for beef, trade was very flat, and ulti- 

 mately lower prices were submitted to, and this caused a 

 clearauce of all the beef, which was of first-rate quality. Of 

 store cattle theie were but few ; of sheep about 800 penned, 

 and these were chiefly sold. We may quote beef aud mutton, 

 best qualities, as not exceeding 7d. per lb. 



YOKK FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— The supply of all 

 deacriptions of horned cattle and sheep was very limited, and 

 the demand equally so ; hence the slow sale for both beef and 

 mutton, the former at from 6s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per 141b3., and 

 the latter at 6d. to 6^d. per lb. The sale for calving and 

 dairy cows, grazing beasts, and sheep has been exceedingly 

 dull, at prices below former rates. 



