THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



177 



been considerably more in favour of buyers than else- 

 where. Commercial distress, then, has allowed the pro- 

 duction of live stock to exceed the consumption ; and, 

 although commerce is slowly improving, we see no 

 reason to look forward to what may be termed brisk 

 markets, or high prices for a considerable period. Agaiuat 

 any rapid improvement in the value of live stock, we may 

 place the low price of bread throughout the country ; and un- 

 til our operatives become fully employed, the consumption of 

 food must remain stationary. We think that the theory that 

 production of late years has not kept pace with the demand 

 has jpholly exploded : indeed, it would seem preposterous to 

 suppose that the high quotations at which both beasts and 

 sheep have been selling during the last two or thiee years 

 should not, even in the usual course of trade, have stimulated 

 our breeders to increased exertions. In Holland there is, ap- 

 parently, a marked chau6;e in the system of rearing stock for 

 foreign markets — certainly for our own. That country has, 

 apparently, been drained of its superfluous stock, owing to the 

 immense numbers of beasts and sheep purchased for France, 

 to meet the wants of the people during the last three or four 

 years. We believe, therefore, that prices here will be very 

 little influenced by the amount of supply which the Dutch 

 graziers will iiave to spare for us during the whole of the pre- 

 sent year. From Holsteiu, we shall, no doubt, receive our 

 customary supplies ; but, in a general way, they are not of a 

 quality likely to have much effect upon the prices of good 

 stock. During last month, the following supplies were im- 

 ported into London from abroad : — 



Beasts 433 head. 



Sheep 1,307 „ 



Calves 603 „ 



Total .. 2,312 



In January, 1857, the total arrivals amounted to 4,633; 

 in 1856, to 3,292 ; in 1855, 9,102 ; in 1854, 7,919 ; in 1853, 

 12,847 ; and in 1852, to 10,567 head. Thus, it will be 

 seen that the arrivals last month were smaller than in the 

 six previous years. 



The total supplies of stock exhibited in the Great Metro- 

 politan Market in January were as follows: — 



Beasts 20,312 head. 



Cows 572 „ 



Sheep 80,742 „ 



Calves 1,108 „ 



Pigs 1,759 „ 



Comparison op Supplies. 

 Jan. Beasts. Cows. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. 



1857.... 19,949 355 81,200 1,071 2,355 



1856.... 17,532 4.35 101,600 757 2,930 



1855 19,717 500 120,470 962 2(i25 



1854 19,687 510 95,080 887 2,279 



1853.... 20,717 480 96,800 2,148 2,360 



Beef has sold at from 3s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. ; mutton, 3s. 4d. 

 to Ss. 4d. ; veal, 4s. to 5s. 4d. ; pork, 3s. 6d. to 4s. lOd. 

 per 8 lbs. by the carcase. 



Comparison of Prices. 



Jan., 1854. Jan., 1855. 



8. d. 8. d. 8. d. s. d. 



Beef, from 3 to 4 10 3 2 to 5 9 



Mutton 3 2 — 5 4 3 4 — 5 



Veal 34_56....42 — 60 



Pork 3 4 — 4 10.... 30—44 



Jan., 1856. Jan., 1857. 



s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 



Beef, from 2 10 to 4 10 .... 3 4 to S 2 



Mutton 2 10 — 5 3 8 — 56 



Veal 4 2 — 6 0.... 38 — 60 



Pork 3 8 — 5 0.... 88 — 52 



The closing prices of last month show a decline of 6d. per 

 81bs. in the value of beef, of 4d. in mutton, of lOd. in veal, 

 and 6d. in pork, compared with January, 1857. 



Last month the arrivals of beasts up to the Great Metro- 

 politan Market, from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cam- 

 bridgeshire, were about 9,000 Scots and shorthorns ; from 

 Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire, 4,000 

 shorthorns; from other parts of Kngland, 1,550 of various 

 breeds ; from Scotland, 2,800 Scots ; and from Ireland, 

 1,340 oxen. 



In Newgate and Leadenhall markets, which have been 

 abundantly supplied, the trade has ruled heavy, as fullows: 

 Beef from 2s. lUd. to 4s. 2d., mutton 3s. to 4s. 8d., veal 3s. 6d. 

 to 4s. 8d., and pork Ss. 2d. to 4s. 8d. per 81bs. by the carcase. 



REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE 



DURING THE PAST MONTH. 



The first month of the new year was character- 

 ized throughout by the almost total absence of rain. 

 The temperature has greatly varied ; four days at 

 nearly the commencement^being very frosty, these 

 suddenly giving way to great mildness, which was 

 followed by cold nights, and eventually by a 

 thoroughly wintry aspect. The dryness of the 

 subsoil has preserved the well-grown wheat plant 

 in health, and the timely appearance of frost has 

 kept it from undue luxuriance, so that it is 

 generally agreed a very fair prospect is on the 

 ground. In the near and southern countries of 

 Europe, as well as on the African coast, the same 

 promise is reported. The first turn of the year 

 showed some tone in the markets, with a slight ad- 

 vance, and the frost led many to thresh freely ; but 

 the sudden thaw greatly deteriorating the condition 

 of the larger quantity on show, coupled with the 

 general prostration of trade produced by the late 

 severe crisis, has thrown the markets back to their 

 former dulness, and the balance of the month has 

 been against sellers about 28. per qr. Future 

 prices must be influenced by foreign arrivals; and 

 these of late havinj^ been liberal, through the ex- 



cessive mildness of the weather, which has kept 

 the Baltic and the northern ports open, millers 

 have had such an abundant choice of samples, that 

 they have partly been independent of English 

 supplies. The return of cold weather, may for a 

 time, lessen their amount ; but the universally good 

 wheat crop, and the generalj monetary pressure 

 seem likely to renew the abundance in sprin/.^, 

 and certainly abate the prospect of a much better 

 remuneration to English growers. The failure of 

 the potato crop is, however, likely to be then felt ; 

 and should any mishap occur to the growing crops, 

 there would be nothing to fall back upon but the 

 surplus growth of one favourable season. Tlie 

 circumstance that the French markets rather decline 

 at present, is little to be depended on, for they are 

 not sufficiently low to leave a margin for profitable 

 shipments here, and France, with her numerous 

 population and large consumption, may require 

 much foreign produce before the new harvest. 

 From America some quantity may come; 

 stocks at New York having somewhat accumu- 

 lated, and but a small portion of the 

 western growth being used up; but the 



