162 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



public sales, in consequence of the lieaviuess of the market 

 for Eiifjiish wools. It is now some lime since we first drew 

 attention to this particular class ; and we would again re- 

 peat, that any trouble and expense would be amply repaid 

 in increasing the growth of this very useful description, and 

 we arc of opinion that the most extreme prices they have 

 yet attained liaye not exceeded their intrinsic merits ; they 

 have hitherto been chiefly tried for experiments, and as they 

 become better known they will command a wider consump- 

 tion and a higher permanent value, 



China. — The import continues on a limited scale, and so 

 ar from any improvement the condition has b een even worse 

 han usual. This wool could be used with advantage, if a 

 moderate degree of care was taken to make it acceptable to 

 our consumers. 



Russia shows a large increase, chiefly of Douskoy. Until 

 the latter part of this year Donskoy wools were in fair demand, 

 while superior parcels were much sought after, and were readily 

 saleable at lid. per lb. Sales were made at this price nett 

 cash, and it is probable that ll^d. per lb. might have been ob 

 tained, if a further quantity of superior wool had been available 

 at the time. It is to be regretted that the quantity of healthy- 

 grown bright combing wool is much diminished, the great bulk 

 being very cotty and short in staple, besides very scurfy and 

 containing a large proportion of broken wool. The quotations 

 abroad for this article are still much above what can be ob- 

 tained here. Autumn and Lambs' have not engaged much 

 attention. There has been very little done in brook-washed, 

 or scoured, but for both we consider the prospects favourable. 

 These kinds have been much sought after in Russia, and already 

 some extensive contracts have been made for next season's de- 

 livery in August and September, for Continental account, at 

 very full prices. 



Mediterranean. — There has been a moderate increase, 

 but the various kiuds do not call for particular comment, 

 having comprised a large proportion of inferior kinds, imported 

 chiefly with the view of meeting the demand for the United 

 States, of which a large quantity still remains on hand. 



Egyptian has fallen much in discredit, owing to the great 

 prevalence of spurious kiuds attempted to be passed off under 

 this name. The pure glossy article continues as much in 

 favour as ever, but is now rarely met with except mixed with 

 Syria, and other inferior wools, which are altogether unsuited 

 to the same purpose. 



Turkey Goat's Wool or Mohair.— Although the im- 

 port has been on ratlier a liberal scale, there has been a good 

 demand throughout the year, and at no time has there been any 



accumulatlou of stocks, sales having been largely entered into 

 for arribal at advancing rates. 



Iceland. — The supply has not equalled the previous year, 

 but it has incrtased in favour with the new branches of the 

 trade, owing to its peculiar brightness of colour and softness. 

 Early in the season sales were made, both on the spot and for 

 arrival, at ISjd. per lb. ; but subsequently, some transactions 

 took place at 12d. to 12|d. per lb., chiefly for Southland wool. 

 The remaining stock consists principally of Northland, in- 

 cluding some parcels of very superior quality and length. 



Barbary. — The import has been below an average. Me- 

 dium and fine qualities in good condition generally meet with 

 ready sale, but for the most part they are still open to the 

 objection of being very sandy, burry, and in damp condition, 

 which render them almost unmarketable. 



Domestic Wools. — Prices of English have been well 

 maintained, with a general tendency to advance till the late 

 panic occurred, and since then they have been altogether 

 nominal. Some very low sales have been reported, made 

 under circumstances of peculiar pressure, and can therefore, 

 hardly be considered any fair criterion of value. The stock 

 remaining in growers' hands is particularly light, and from the 

 absence of purchasers for several months, consumers are sup- 

 posed to be pretty well reduced in stock. During the last 

 week a good many buyers have been looking round, and any 

 lots ofi'ered at moderate rates have been freely accepted, so 

 that prices will soon assume a fixed value. In Ireland the 

 same limited supply exists, and at the present time, owing to 

 the large quantity exported, the whole country could probably 

 not furnish more than in former years might readily have been 

 met with in one single district. Scotch. — Laid Cheviot has 

 been in very moderate demand, and prices have been chiefly 

 maiutaiued by speculative purchases, rather indiscriminately 

 entered into, which were subsequently thrown upon the mar- 

 ket^under very unfavourable circumstances, entailing very heavy 

 losses and a depreciation in value disproportionate to any 

 other description at the time. Laid Highland, on the con- 

 trary, has maintained a liigh price, and been much dearer than 

 corresponding qualities of foreign. 



Sheep Skins have met with uniformly good demand during 

 the greater part of the year, and have been saleable on arrival 

 at satisfactory prices ; but of late there has been a great 

 desire to press sales of Emjlish skins, and there has been 

 little attention directed to Foreign, of which there is only a 

 trifling stock. 



Liverpool, Jan. Isl. Hughes and Ronald, 



Wool Brokers. 



TRADE OF THE PORT OF HULL. 



REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1857. 



During the eventful year now closing, the business of this 

 port has been carried on on a very extensive scale, as the 

 amounts of tonnage and of the tabulated exports and imports 

 fully manifest. The severe money pressure which has pre- 

 vailed for the last few months naturally restricted transactions 

 and. depressed prices, causing also a great accumulation of 

 stocks of many of our leading articles of import. The Bank 

 of England having now, however, reduced the rate of discount, 

 and an easier position in our monetary affairs resulting, will, 

 it is confidently anticipated, cause a resumption of business in 

 this quarter, and a greater activity of the general trade of the 

 country. 



The gross tonnage entering the port this year amounts to 

 1,085,390, against 1,076,787 last year, showing an increase of 

 8,603 tous. The number of ships and vessels reported inuard 

 on foreign voyages is 3,033, tonnage 738,082, whilst last year 

 the number was 3,157, and tonnage 743,157, showing a trifling 

 decrease. The tounage of steam vessels in the foreign trade 

 this year is 47,240, against 28,229 in 1856, and 14,392 in 1855, 

 exhibiting an increase in the number and tounage of our 

 steamers of nearly 100 per cent, from year to year. The year 

 1856, it will be remembered, greatly exceeded, in consequence 

 of the cessation of hostilities with Russia, any previous year 

 in the extent of our trade. 



Grain, — We have again to record at the close of this year a 

 great reduction in the value of all cereal produce, which, at 

 a time like the present, when the manufacturing interests 

 of the country have hardly begun to recover 4"rom the shock 

 of the commercial disaaters above alluded to, must be a 

 source of congratulation to the consuming '(public, the price 

 of the staple article of food in this country being now lower 

 than it has been since the summer of 1853. It is no part of 

 our duty to venture an opinion as to the future range of 

 prices of an article so changeable and so dependent on sea- 

 sons as grain ; but the value is now reduced to such a point 

 that the agricultural interest already complain of unremu- 

 nerative prices ; and when such is the case, it is generally 

 admitted— so intimate is the connexion between them — 

 that the manufacturing interests of the country must also 

 be in some measure iiffected pari passu. Already the'grow- 

 ers appear to have made a stand ; and for the above reason, 

 and the failure of the potato crop, as well as the prospects of 

 a resumption of activity in our manufacturing districts, an 

 upward movement in price is by no means improbable, the 

 extent of which will greatly depend upon the supplies that 

 are likely to reach us from America and other corn produ- 

 cing countries before the coming harvest. At the com- 

 mencement of the year the value of good red English wheat 



