THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



357 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 MARCH. 



Since we last wrote, the weather in nearly all parts of the 

 United Kingdom has been very favourable for otit-door farm 

 labour, in which, consequently, great progress has been made. 

 Much of the light wheats, and most of the spring corn, have 

 now been sown even in our backward counties, and the land 

 has been everywhere in fiue condition for the reception of the 

 seed furrow. So far, therefore, everything is in a satisfactory 

 state ; but when we consider the wheat trade, the continuous 

 decline in prices, and the future pro-pects of the growers, 

 there is reason to anticipate a state of things — as respects 

 wheat in particular — almost without a parallel. The effects of 

 the late severe panic in the commercial world — a panic that 

 has led to a decrease in our aggregate shipments during the 

 first two months of the present year, compared with last sea- 

 son, of nearly four miUio7is sterling — have, to some extent, 

 produced a decline in the consumption ; there is literally no 

 spec'ilation going on, either in home or foreign produce, not- 

 withstanding that money is unusually abundant and cheap ; 

 and great anxiety continues to be shown by the holders of 

 foreign grain to sell at almost any price. The result of the 

 last year's wheat harvest in this country shows an enormous 

 yield, and an unusually large quantity on hand, both in barn 

 and stack. Throughout France the produce seems to be 

 equally large ; and the same state of things prevails in the 

 United States. The consequence is that we have had all sellers 

 and very few buyers, except for immediate consumption, and 

 forced sales of grain have continued, to the prejudice of the 

 Talue of home-grown qualities. Again, in order to compete 

 with French flour — which may be had as low as 343. per 

 280 lbs., free on board, at Nautes — the town millers have re- 

 duced their top price to 40j, and country marks have fallen in 

 an equal proportion. The value of wheat has, too, declined 

 fully 43. per quarter, and the question generally asked is — 

 When will the downward movement cease ? We can scarcely 

 assume that wheat can be much lower than it now is, because 

 it would be better for the wealthy growers to withhold sup- 

 plies altogether, and take the chance of future markets, than 

 sell at present quotations ; but, at the same time, it is very 

 evident that any advance cannot be anticipated at present. 

 The last official averages show a fall in the quotations, com- 

 pared with the same time laat year, of about 12a. per quarter, 

 and, in the present tone of the trade, that difference seems 

 likely to increase than diminish. From France, the north of 

 Europe, and from the United States, we are threatened with 

 heavy importations in the face of great abunslance at home, and 

 there is not the slightest appearance of speculative investments. 



The want of speculation has compelled the foreign houses to 

 sell on their own account ; consequently there has been no ac- 

 cumulation of supply in warehouse. However, there is no 

 question but that the downward movement must have a limit, 

 and that ordinary prudence on the part of our farmers, and of 

 shippers generally, will have its accustomed influence upon the 

 demand. 



The barley trsde has continued healthy, and prices have 

 ruled steady. Oats, beans, and peas have likewise commanded 

 extreme, to rather advanced, rates; and these articles are likely 

 to sell well, and at full quotations, during the remainder of the 

 season. 



A further advance, owing to their scarcity, has taken place 

 in the value of the best potatoes. We, however, continue to 

 receive large supplies from the Continent, in fair condition, 

 and which have changed handj at from 80s. to 1053. per ton. 

 Evidently, the extent of our growth last year — though we ad- 

 mit that a large portion of it has turned out undt for human 

 consumption — has been much under-rated, as, even now, the 

 supplies on hand are extensive. 



The result of the last Colonial sales is quite as satisfactory 

 as could have been anticipated, considering the dulness of trade 

 io our maaufacturing districts. Fine wools lold at Id. to IJd. 

 per pound more money ; but inferior qualities weut lower. 



The English wool trade has been in a state of great depression, 

 and the fall in prices during the last six months has been fully 

 forty per cent. This decline arises, in some measure, from the 

 almost total absence of the usual Continental orders. This 

 year's clip is turning out unusually large, even in districts not 

 generally considered "crack " ones. Advices from Australia 

 bring great heaviness in the wool trade, and a fall of from Id. 

 to Hd. per pound in the quotations. 



In the value of hay and straw very few changes have taken 

 place. Meadow hay has realised £2 lOs. to £4 4s.; clover do., 

 £3 10s. to £5 ; and straw, £1 5s. to £i lOs. per load. 



Throughout Scotland farming operations have progressed 

 steadily, and the wheat trade has ruled heavy, at drooping 

 currencies. Fat stock has likewise fallen in value. 



In Ireland, the transactions in all kinds of produce have 

 fallen off, and prices have ruled in favour of buyers. The ship- 

 ments of grain to England have been very small for the time 

 of year. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Notwithstanding that only moderate supplies of fat stock 

 have been on offer in the Metropolitan Market, the greatest 

 heaviness has prevailed in the trade generally, and a serious 

 decline lias taken place in the quotations. The continuous 

 fall in prices has led to the opinion in various quarters that 

 the consumption of food in Loudon is rapidly falling off. 

 Such, however, is not the fact, and the cause of depression 

 in the currencies may be easily traced. That an unusually 

 small amount of butchers' meat is now being consumed in 

 the manufacturinn- districts, is obvious from the enormous 

 supplies which have reached London by railway, and 

 which, in a general way, would have been sent to Manches- 

 ter, Birmingham, &c. These supplies— which, in some 

 weeks, have amounted to twenty thousand carcasses — have 

 been overwhelming; so large, indeed, have they proved, 

 that the greatest difficulty has been experienced in effecting 

 sales on any terms. Had they been only moderately ex- 

 tensive, seeing that the consumption of meat in London is 

 still large, prices would not have run down to their present 

 low point, and great losses, on the part of those who bought 

 store stock at high values, would have been prevented. (Jn 

 the part of the foreigner there has been very little competi- 

 tion, as the surplus produce of both Holland and Germany is 

 still directed to France. In February there were imported 

 into that country 19,119 oxen and sheep, against 3?, 51 3 in 

 the corresponding month in 1857, and 23,050 in 1856. It 

 is true that these figures show a slight falling-off when 

 compared with the two previous years; yet they prove that 

 the production of live stock in France is considerably less 

 than the consumption. Our dependence upon the foreigner, 

 as will be seen by our statistical details, is now reduced to 

 a nominal amount, and the reduction in our importations 

 shows a steady onward progress in our prodnctioii, both as 

 regards number, weight, and condition. The high pricos 

 prevailing in this country up to a recent period have, no 

 doubt, operated as a stimulus to production ; and our impres- 

 sion is that there is now more stock, both in England and 

 Scotland, than has been known for many years past. 

 Perhaps, however, our remarks may be more strictly ap- 

 plied to beasts, the breeds of which are now nndergoing 

 changes of great importance. In Nirlolk the shorthorns 

 have been more generally introduced, not only as a separate 

 breed, but they have been mixed with Scots, until the pure 

 breeds of the latter have become much loss immirous than 

 formerly ; in point of fact, the Scots in Norfolk are not now 

 kept up, as formerly, by direct arrivals from Scotland, owing 

 to the Scotch breeders keeping their store animals at home, 

 and the shorthorns have been more generally introduced 

 into that and the adjoining counties as fresh blood ; hence, 



