68 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



one penny per Ion per mile, have had the effect of increasing 

 the ..ipphes to a ccnsideiable extent. Then, again, we must 

 not forf^et that wool, hides, and skins are worth more m some 

 parts of the country than in the metropolis ; so that, although 

 meat in Newgate and Leadenhall has becu sold at very low 

 prices, there has been no actual loss, in a comparative sense, 

 in the present increased mode of supplying the wants of 

 London. 



In Holland, and on some other parts of the continent, stock 

 is now relatively dearer than in England ; consequently the 

 importalions into London have exhibited a further decrease. 

 Last month they were as follows : — 



Beasts 714 head. 



Sheep 822 „ 



Calves 784 „ 



Total 2,.320head. 



Same time in 1 857 4,720 head 



„ 1856 3,0R7 „ 



1855 2,839 „ 



1854 10,683 „ 



1853 12,433 „ 



„ 1852 9,123 „ 



„ 1851 11,828 „ 



Thus it will be seen that we have received an unusually 

 Braall importation, the falling off, compared with February, 

 1853, being over 10,000 head. 



The total supplies shown in the great Metropolitan Market 

 have been as under : — 



Beasts 1 8,276 head. 



Cows 466 „ 



Sheep 69,070 „ 



Calves 1,091 „ 



Pigs 1,559 „ 



Comparison of Supplies. 



Feb. Beasts. Cows. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. 



1857.... 17,629 457 74,430 1,172 1,975 



1856.... 19,642 495 99,950 673 2,614 



1855.... 17,436 385 91,180 596 2,705 



1854.... 20,091 .520 92,441 1,023 2,279 



1853.... 19,308 470 86,910 2,098 2,420 



This comparison shows that the supply of sheep disposed 

 of has been smaller than during the last five years. 



From Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire, 10.020 

 Scots and short-horns came to hand during the month. From 

 other parts of England the receipts were 3,850 of various 

 breeds, from Scotland 2,340 Scots, and from Ireland 1,012 

 oxen and heifers. 



About 1,200 shorn sheep have made their appearance in the 

 market, and which have sold at from 6d. to 8d. per 81bs. 

 beneath those iu the wool. It is to be regretted that shearing 

 should be commenced et so early a period, because it frequently 

 happens that the loss upon each head is fully 2d. per 81bs., as 

 the butchers are never disposed to purchase stock out of the 

 wool during inclement weather. Wool may be worth more 

 in some parts of the country than in the metropolis ; but our 

 impression is that the flockmasters lose money by early shear- 

 ing—that is to say, if the sheep are intended for immediate 

 sale. 



Beef has sold at from Ss. to 4?. 6d. ; mutton, 3i. 2d. to 5s. 

 2d. ; veal, 49. to Ss. ; pork, 3s. 2d. to 49. 6d. per Bibs, to sink 

 the offal. In the corresponding month in 1857, the best beef 

 realized 5s , the best mutton 63., the best veal 5s. 8d., and the 

 best pork 5i. 2d. per 81bs. The fall, therefore, compared with 

 last season, is a serious oi:e, and many of the graziers who 

 bought store animals at high rates are now losing money. 



Nearly 40,000 carcases of meat have been received up to 

 Newgate and Leadenhall markets during the month. The 

 trade generally has been in a most depressed state at drooping 

 currencies. 



Beef has sold at from 23. lOd. to 4s. 4d. ; mutton, 3s. to 

 4s. 6d. •, veal, .Bs. 6d. to 4s. 6d. ; pork, 3s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. 

 per 8 lbs. by the carcase. 



Letters from Holland state that'the supplies of stock likely 

 to be shipped to this country during the present year are still 

 limited, that prices rule high, and that purchases of both 

 beasts and sheep still continue to be effected ou French 

 account. In the north of Europe the supplies have rather 



increased, but in France meat is still ruling high. Apparently, 

 therefore, there is no prospect of our receiving large importa- 

 tions between this and the end of the year; indeed, it is 

 possible that we shall have to report even a further decrease 

 in them. The demand, therefore, will be chiefly met from 

 home sources, and it occurs to us that the late fall in the quo- 

 tations will be shortly recovered, though we admit that prices 

 during the coming season are likely to rule moderate. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, 

 FAIRS. &c. 



APPLEBY HORSE FAIR.— A few very good animals 

 were shewn, and for some, good prices were obtained. 



BANBURY FAIR.— The supply of beef and mutton, of all 

 kinds, is very good, and although sales are complained against 

 by a few, yet the trade done may be considered satisfactory, 

 prices being much the same as last fair. The quality of the 

 cattle is really excellent, and best things met with a speedy 

 sale. 



BEDALE FAIR.— We had a thin showof fat stock, which 

 sold readily at rather higher prices. In lean stock and in- 

 calvers there was also a short supply, hut they sold well, and 

 prices remained unaltered. Beef, 6s. to 78. per stone ; mut- 

 ton, 5d. to 6d. per lb. 



BEVERLEY FAIR had a good attendance of buyers. A 

 limited supply of first-clasa horses had ready sale ; a good 

 show of medium and inferior ones had dull demand and prices 

 low. A very limited number of cattle had slow sale, and 

 prices still lowering. 



BRIDGNORTH FAIR was very depressed, the supply of 

 stock being very small, and the attendance of dealers smaller 

 than usual. Sheep sold from 7d. to 7id., and some fine ewes 

 went as high as 7|d. Cows sold from 6d. to 6^d. Cows and 

 calves were about the same as last fair. Pigs continue low. 

 The horse fair was ill supplied; and what stock was there was 

 in very bad condition. The highest price fetched for small 

 waggon horses was 30/. 



BROUGH FAIR.— There was a large show of well-bred 

 beasts, and a number of influential buyers and jobbers, but all 

 seemed inclined not to give the prices asked, which soon 

 caused a different aspect, and the market became fiat, and was 

 much down compared to the fair held in January; except 

 calvers, which went off well. Groups of cattle were unsold. 



CARLISLE KORSE FAIR.— The display of horses on 

 this occasion surpassed anything of the kind for the last thirty 

 or forty years, both as to numbers and quality, the market 

 being quite full. The number of saddle horses was not very great, 

 neither was the quality of this class first-rate. We do not 

 remember having seen a smaller number of old and low con- 

 dition animals on a similar occasion. The amount of business 

 transacted was not so extensive as might have been expected, 

 and price had a downward tendency. 



DEVIZES FAIR.— The show of worked-off oxen, suitable 

 for grazing purposes, was large, and sold at about £2 in £20 

 less than last year ; at this reduction a fair trade was done, 

 although a few lots were taken away unsold. Barreners, in- 

 calvers, and milch beasts were in short supply, and sold at 

 about £1 per head less money. Beef, from lOs. to lis. per 

 score. The great feature at this fair was the worked-off oxen ; 

 and it is admitted, we believe, on all hands, that a few years 

 at the plough is decidedly btneticial for grazing, and improves 

 the flavour of the meat if not worked too long. As regards 

 the horse fair, we cannot say much. Mr. Edmonds, of 

 Wroughton, sold two or three good cart horses, and we heard 

 of one or two use'nl nags being sold in the stables; in other 

 respects little business was done. 



DORCHESTER FAIR was scarcely so large as on 

 previous occasions ; but business may be fairly said to be 

 brisk, and on every description of stock prices were good, 

 and a more than average amount of business was done. 



DUMFRIES HORSE FAIR— The number of horses 

 was at no time greater than 300, or about a fourth less than 

 the number brought forward last year, and, as usual, they 

 were almost entirely draught horses. The general proportion of 

 very good horses was not great, and the fall in that class was 

 not more than 15 per cent, from the rates of last February. 

 On secondary stock the reduction was at least 20 per cent. ; 

 on third class about the same ; while for lower grades there 



