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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 JANUARY. 



For the time of year this has been a remarkably fine 

 month. Throughout the country rapid progress has been 

 made in all agricultural operations, which are now in a 

 more forward state than at almost any previous correspond- 

 ing period. Everywhere, the winter wheats are looking 

 remarkabl}' well ; indeed, scarcely a complaint on this head 

 has reached us from any quarter. Thus far, matters are 

 satisfactory enough; but when we turn to the question of 

 tlie value of wheat, we are compelled to draw rather an 

 unfavourable picture. That grain, notwithstanding th?t 

 our leading provincial markets have been but moderately 

 supplied with home-grown produce, has met a dull inquiry', 

 and which has resulted in a continuous decline in value. 

 The cause of the present decline, however, is easily traced. 

 In the first place we may observe that, owing to the mild- 

 ness of the weather, the holders of wheat at Hambro' and 

 some other ports have been enabled to forward large sup- 

 plies, with orders for immediate sale. Apparently, there- 

 fore, the holders in the North of Europe have taken alarm 

 at the prospect held out to them as regards the future, and 

 are turning their produce into money, without waiting the 

 result of our spring trade. Whether this is sound policy, 

 time alone will determine ; but our impiession is that forced 

 scales at the present moment are highly injudicious, more 

 especially as money in the discount market is unusually 

 cheap and very plentiful, and that prices have been run 

 down far beneath their ordinary level. In the next place, 

 holders of foreign wheat, both in London and at the out-. 

 portSj have shown signs of uneasiness, owing to the heavi- 

 ness in the various markets in France, and the strenuous 

 etforta making by the French millers to induce parties here 

 to speculate in flour. These efl^orts have as yet been un- 

 successful; but it is a debateable question how long prices 

 either here or on the Continent will show a tendency to 

 decline. And here we may remark that much misappre- 

 hension exists in some quarters as regards the exports of 

 produce from France. Some persons have imagined that 

 they are wholly free of duty ; but such is not the case, and 

 we here give a practical view of the working of the new 

 export scale of duties : When the average price of wheat 

 ill the markets of ^aumer, Nantes, and Marai^^, which 

 establishes the duty for the third section of the third class 

 (saj' for all the ports between Nantes and Rochefort, in- 

 clusive), does not exceed 21f per hectolitre on wheat, the 

 duty remains nominally as at present, say, 30c. per hecto- 

 litre on wheat, and 60c. per 100 kilos on flour. Any 

 advance upon 21f. up to 22^ raises the duty 2f. 40c. 

 on wheat, and 4f 80c. on flour: in a similar manner, 

 every subsequent advance of a franc increases the duty 

 by 2f 40c. on wheat, and 4f 80c. on flour. Thus, if 

 the average price at the markets named should be from 22f. 

 Ic. to 23f. per hectolitre, the duty would be 4f. 80c. 

 per hectolitre on wheat, and 9f. 60c. on flour. The 

 working is similar as respects barley, rye, Indian corn, 

 oats, and buckwheat, the only difference being the 

 price at which the nominal duty changes ; hence, any 

 steady upward movement in the quotations would 

 almost immediately lead to a stoppage to the export trade, 

 unless, indeed, prices iu this country were rapidly to advance 

 in proportion. Up to this time the quantity of grain and 

 flour received from France has been trifling, and whilst the 

 trade here continued heavy, any increase in the receipts can- 

 not be anticipated, more especially as our farmers now hold 

 an unusually large quantity of wheat of last year's growth, 

 and that, too, ot very fine quality. The failure of the potato 

 crop has led to an advance iu the value of the best potatoes 

 to nine pounds per ton. We perceive, then, that a second 

 quality of food is now positively dearer than good and useful 

 flour, which may be purchased at £S per ton. From the 

 Continent very few potatoes can now reach us, as the stocks 



are nearly exhausted, and the supplies in the hands of the 

 growers, both in England and Scotland, are reduced to a nar- 

 row compass. Although the consumption of bread iu our 

 manufacturing districts has somewhat decreased, owing to the 

 late severe commercial panic, we are cf opinion that wheat is 

 now selling at prices far beneath its actual value. The barley 

 trade has been in an unsatisfactory state, and the quotations 

 have continued to give way, in consequence of large importa- 

 tions from the Continent, and the comparatively small supplies 

 taken by the distillers. 



Our fat stock markets have ruled heavy throughout the 

 month, and prices generally have given way, notwithstanding 

 that the importations of beast and sheep from abroad have 

 continued trifling. The health of the stock in our leading 

 counties continues good, and the supply of winter food is 

 abundant. After a severe fall in prices, and a great depression 

 in the trade, wool has somewhat recovered itself. At present, 

 however, we have no advance to notice in prices ; but there is 

 every prospect of the demand improving, as the stocks held by 

 the manufacturers, both here and on the Continent, are un- 

 usually limited. 



For good and fine hops, the demand has been rather active, 

 and prices have advanced fromSs. to 5s. per c«t. In all other 

 kinds, however, very little has been passing, at about previous 

 currencies. The supplies in the hands of the factors are very 

 large for the time of year. 



Both hay and straw have come freely to hand, and we have 

 no improvement to notice in the trade. Meadow hay has sold 

 at from £2 lOs. to £1; clover ditto, £3 lOs. to £5; and 

 straw, £1 Ss. to £ I lOs. per load. The quantities of hay now 

 on hand are by no means so extensive as they were at this 

 period in 1857. 



The agricultural advices from Scotland are favourable. Out- 

 door labours generally are sufl^ciently for A'ard, but the wheat 

 trade has sj'mpathised with the demand in tlie south. All 

 spring corn has moved off slowly, and prices have given way. 

 The shipments of produce to the south have been tolerably ex- 

 tensive. 



Throughout Ireland, wheat and most other articles have 

 moved off heavily, ou easier terms. The imports of foreign 

 grain have been liberal, and the exports to England small. 

 The stocks of produce at the various porta are only moderate. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Notwithstanding that only moderate supplies of beasts 

 have been on sale in our leading cattle markets, and that 

 the imports of stock from the Continent have been on a 

 very limited scale, the beef trade has been in a most un- 

 satisfactory state throughout the month. The fall in prices, 

 however, has not been extensive; but evidently the 

 butchers have purchased with more than usual caution. 

 As regards sheep, we may state that the inquiry for all 

 breeds has continued restrictive, and that a fall of fully 2d. 

 per 81bs. has taken place in the quotations. Calves, how- 

 ever, have ruled steady ; but the value of pigs has con- 

 tinued to give way. 



That the late commercial panic has led to a considerable 

 decrease in the consumption of meat in the manufacturing 

 districts, is evident from the enormous quantities of beef, 

 mutton, and pork which have lately reached Newgate and 

 Ltadenhall markets from some of the midland counties, 

 which, in some seasons, send large supplies to Manchester, 

 Birmingham, &c. The falling off in the demand for 

 butchers' meat in those marts of industry has compelled 

 those who slaughter extensively to forward to the metro- 

 polis. Large additions to the metropolitan supplies have 

 of necessity influenced the value of live stock in the other 

 markets, and prices in Newgate and Leadenhall have 



