THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



151 



time enaued, which however was fully recovered before the 

 termination. The General Election, which had just taken 

 place, had proved a great hindrance to business, and the pre- 

 vailinjf high rate of money determined home buyers to act 

 with great cautioQ; and their operations were very trifling till 

 towards the close ; en the other hand, foreign buyers being 

 without stocks, aud finding au excellent assortment of first- 

 class wools, came out very strong on this occasion, particularly 

 at the beginning, and their purchasea were very extensive. 

 The third series continued from 16th July to the 22nd of 

 August, and the quantity of fine colonial was 80,306 bales, 

 including 12,452 bales Cape. Prices having gone very high 

 at the German wool fairs aud all over the continent, the same 

 being the case with our own clip, these sales opened under 

 Tery favourable auspices, aided by the promising appearance of 

 the growing crops, and the relaxation in the Money Market. 

 Foreign buyers again appeared in great numbers, operating 

 very freely, aud, notwithstau'liug the unusually large quantity, 

 (of 2-J- millions sterling value,) and the great caution still 

 evinced by home buyers, an advance was established at 

 the commencement of IJd. per lb., and after a short time 

 a further improvement took place of Id. to l^d. per lb., 

 which was supported to the close. At the fourth aud last 

 series of the year, which took place from the 12th November 

 to t'ne 4th of December, the quantity of fine colonial was 

 44,873 bales, including 16,853 bales Cape. These sales opened 

 under circumstances of extreme depression (the minimum 

 Bank of England rate having been only a few days before 

 raised to 10 per cent. !) at a decline from the closing rates of 

 the previous sale of 2d. to 3d. per lb. ; but as they continued 

 under the influence of increased pressure, a still further reduc- 

 tion was established of Id. per lb , chiefly applicable to wools 

 in faulty conditiou, which, being in great superabundance, ia- 

 cieased the prevailing heaviness, and notwithstanding the fre- 

 quent withdrawals (which were partly again introduced into 

 subsequent catalogues) failed to arrest the decline, Sydney 

 wools show improved management, which is also particularly 

 observable in Tasmanian flocks. This is not altogether the 

 case with Port Philip wools, although, on the whole, the con- 

 dition has been favourable. New Zealand wools are increas- 

 ing in favour, owing to the peculiarly healthy growth, and the 

 only drawback is their imperfect conditiou. Adelaide wools 

 exhibit consiJerable improvement, aud although the greater 

 part imported- last year has been iu the grease, we do not look 

 upon this as any impediment to their usefulness, as the pre- 

 judice even in this country against unwashed wools is much 

 abated. It is rather a serious matter to notice that for several 

 years the total receipts from the colonies have been almost 

 stationary, while during the past year there has actually beeua 

 decrease, aud notwithstanding the fjcilities for early ship- 

 ments, the quantity still to come forward for the next sales 

 will be very small. 



Cape of Good Hope shows a continuous and rapidly 

 increasing supply. There has been a marked improvement in 

 the growth of the wool of late years, and such flocks as are 

 well managed are now much esteemed both by home and 

 foreign buyers. It is, however, much to be regretted that a 

 considerable portion has been of imperfect growth, arising 

 from the practice of shearing twice during the year, which 

 . cannot be too strongly deprecated, being both injurious to the 

 animal aud the quality of the wool, for whatever the grower 

 may gain iu quantity is more than absorbed by the deficiency 

 in price, such wools besides being a very nncurreut sale. This 

 system is by i.o means uncommon in some parts of Germany 

 and Hungary, and it is principally by the German aud Dutch 

 colonists that this very objectionable custom has been 

 practised. 



GERM.4NY. — The growth appears to be stationary if not 

 retrograding, and is by no means aiequate to the increasing 

 domestic wants there. The impoit is no longer considered 

 worth following, and is chiefly confined to lambs' wool, aud 

 Ilungariau and other medium qualities iu the spring oi the 

 year, when our market is usually buoyant and prices are high. 



Spanish and Poktugal. — The receipts as well as demand 

 for the former have almost ceased, aud they are chiefly sent to 

 France, where they are more estimated thau in this country. 

 Estremadura wools are at all limes a favourite article here, 

 provided they are in good condition, being of a useful medium 

 quality; on the other hand, the heavy and gummy descriptions 

 ate mostly of uucurreut sale, except in a very brisk market. 



Long Oporto Fleece met with a ready sale during the greater 

 part of the year at full prices, but the late stagnation in the 

 demand for English Combing Wools has rendered them for 

 the time almost unsaleable. Cotts aud Lambs have generally 

 been disposed of on arrival. 



United States. — In our last annual report we pointed 

 rather significantly to the probability of au early alteration in 

 their tariff, which took place soon after, admitting wools after 

 the ] st July, not exceeding 20 cents per lb., entirely free of 

 duty, other descriptions heiug subject to 24 per cent, ad 

 valorem. Although this is a very imperfect measure, it is at 

 the same time au important step gained, and was not carried 

 without great agitation, there being a strong interest opposed 

 to it, and it was only passed at the last moment before the 

 rising of Congress. This at once caused a very active demand 

 for all descriptions, and the supplies thus directed to that 

 quarter would, even under the most favourable circumstances, 

 have probably proved excessive; but arriving chiefly during the 

 period the panic was severe, and sales altogether impracticable, 

 a large quantity was at ouce re-shipped to this country, of 

 which a great portion are very uusuited to our consumption. 

 We have also received 1,400 bags of the domestic growth of 

 the United States. None of these wools have reached us 

 since 1847, when they were subsequently chiefly bought up 

 for re-sbipment. Although we notice considerable improve- 

 ment both in the wools themselves, as well as in their con- 

 dition, still iu the latter respect there is much to be 

 desired, aud arriving too at a most unfavourable season, they 

 have failed to engage the attention of the home trade to the 

 extent which we think their merits justly deserve ; but we do 

 not doubt that in the spring, when stocks of Port Philip, New 

 Zealand, and Van Diemeu's Land will be light, they will meet 

 with favour, and in the meantime the trade will have had an 

 opportunity of fairly testing them. 



Buenos Ayres and River Plate. — The direct imports 

 have been to a full average extent ; and a fair quantity besides has 

 reached us through Belgium and Italy. Early in the year, 

 better qualities engaged considerable attention, and the first 

 arrivals, both of washed and greasy, were sold at once at ex- 

 treme prices ; but the most favourable period of the year was 

 in a great measure lost by the interruption to business soon 

 afterwards caused by the general election. Some quantity 

 was forced oflf at extremely low rates, which completely un- 

 settled the market ; and, for some time, very little business 

 was done. Prices, however, soon rallied, and sales to some 

 extent were made, at from Is. lOd. to 23. l|d. for good- 

 conditioned parcels ; but both Merinos and Mestizos in wasty 

 conditiou, aud particularly hurry, have not been in much fa- 

 vour. Of common qualities the supply has been limited; 

 and, for the present, we cannot encourage importations. 

 Cordova as well as Santiago wools are well adapted to our 

 wants, aud will generally meet with ready sale ; but the latter 

 are open to objection on account of the burr. 



Peruvian and Alpaca. — There has again been a large 

 increase in the supply of sheep's wool. At intervals it has 

 been operated iu pretty freely, but, ou the whole, has not en- 

 gaged much favour. Alpaca shows greatly-diminished re- 

 ceipts, owing to the civil war aud the blockade of the prin- 

 cipal potts during the latter mouths ; and the stocks there 

 awaiting shipment are rcpoited to be very small. The demand 

 hRs been good throughout the year ; aud sales have been 

 principally made for arrival. The high prices ruling here for 

 some time past would no doubt have encouraged a full supply, 

 had not the impediments to shipments existed to which we 

 have referred ; and it will necessarily continue light for some 

 time to come. 



East India. — The total receipts show a steady increase, 

 and no less than five-sixths have reached this market, a 

 proof that it coiitinue.s to be regarded as the moat favour- 

 able for the sale of this description. Our public sales have 

 attracted considerable attention ; and at the last October 

 series l5,72o bales were disposed of, which_ only a short 

 time back would have been considered impracticable ; 

 nevertheless the whole was taken freely by the trade, and 

 the last day's sale showed oven increased spirit. Persian 

 and other long-stapled kinds of well-bred wools have been 

 in great favour, and on most occasions have brought very 

 extreme prices, owing to the high value of English combing 

 wools, for which they were required as a substitute. These 

 kinds experienced a serious reaction at the late London 



