50 



THE FARMERS MA(JAZINE. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTHIIAL REPORT FOR 

 APRIL. 



Although the weather has been somewhat favourable for 

 the time of year, the frequent changes in it have had the 

 eiVect of checking the progress of vegetation ; nevertheless, 

 our accounts from most of the leading agricultural districts, 

 in reference to the general appearence of the young wheats, 

 are very favourable. Everywhere the}- are looking strong 

 and health}', and promise a good return to the faraier. The 

 sowing of Lent corn was concluded about the usual period, 

 and as respects the plants no reasonable complaints can be 

 made. 



The all-engrossiug topic of discussio.i in agricultural 

 circles has naturally been the almost continuous decline in 

 the value of wheat. Some persons contend that that produce 

 has run down to a point at which speculation is sure to com- 

 mence, whilst others are of opinion that prices have not 

 seen their lowest range. The position of the trade, we may 

 remark, is very different from what it was at this time last 

 year. Then, the French ports were closed against exports, 

 and our millers were not subject to direct competition in an 

 article fully equal in quality to their own. This competition 

 has induced great caution in buying wheat where otherwise 

 itwouldnothave existed ; notthatoui importations have been 

 large, but the almost entire absence of orders from this coun- 

 try has compelled the French millers and the usual shipping 

 houses to forward to agents in this country, and the orders 

 have for the most part been to sell immediately on arrival. 

 So long as this system continues— and it is not confined to 

 flour only, as similar advices have been received with most 

 of the wheat imported from Germany and the Lower Baltic 

 ports— so long shall we have to report dull and, perhaps, 

 drooping markets, even though the stocks of foreign pro- 

 duce in warehouse have become much reduced. We must 

 bear in mind that very large quantities of wheat remain in 

 the hands of the farmers both in England and throughout 

 the continent, as well as in the United States. An extensive 

 speculation, and a determination to warehouse rather than 

 sell at present prices, might improve the trade to some ex- 

 tent; yet, on the other hand, we are fully aware that any 

 upward movement in value in this country would be followed 

 by a large outflow from America, where the shipping season 

 is just commencing. As yet, very little of last year's wheat 

 has been exported, and the shipments of flour have been 

 only moderate -those of other articles having fallen off con- 

 siderably, as will be seen by the annexed official return 

 made up to the 13th of April, current year : 



KXPORTS OF BrEADSTUFFS FROM THE UnITED StATES TO 



Great Britain and Ireland since Sept. 1, 1857. 



Flour. Meal. Wheat. Corn, 



brls. brla. bush. bush. 



1857-58.... 744,339 123 3,4Io,59(i 2,351437 



1856-57.... 775,188 I8fi 7,011,580 4,102,980 



l855-5().... 735,988 5,719 3,755,317 4,337,877 



1854-55.... 130,704 5,235 206,545 4,649,478 

 To THE Continent. 



Flour. Wheat. Corn. Rye. 



,„., . ^^^^- ^"sh. bush. bush. 



1857-58.... 182,143 209,751 14,901 - 



1856-57.... 379,388 2,716,791 496,913 216,162 



I85o-o6 619,964 2,156,734 214,287 1,426 210 



l8o4-o5.... 7,646 _ 295 643 35.541 



From the above figures it must be obvious that a large 

 quantity of produce is still in stock in the United States, 

 unless, indeed, the extent of last year's crop has been greatly 

 over-estimated. Apparently, therefore, there is no prospect 

 of any important movement in the value of wheat for some 

 time. 



As regards spring corn we may write differently. Our 

 own crops are wholly inadequate to meet the demand ; con- 

 sequently, we shall no doubt use up every quarter of barley, 

 oats, beans, and peas imported during the season, without 

 producing any important change in the quotations. Com- 

 pared with wheat, spring corn is c mmanding good prices. 

 Many of our large growers, rather than tell at present quo- 

 tations, have determined to hold over their wheats till next 

 year. Possibly this is sound policy, as we can scarcely an- 

 ticipate two consecutive years of such enormous general 

 abundance as last season produced, and we do not see any 

 reason to look forward to other than a steady increase in 

 the consumption of the better kinds of food, as the trade 

 and commerce of the country are unquestionably steadily 

 recovering from the effects of the late severe panic. 



We have continued to import very large quantities of po- 

 tatoes from the continent. In some measure, they have 

 made good the deficiency in our owu crop and rendered the 

 trade soaaewhat heavy ; nevertheless, good and fine samples 

 have sold at from 160s. to 180s. per ton. The quantity of 

 sound potatoes now on hand in this country is reduced to a 

 narrow compass •, but on the continent, especially in France 

 and Belgium, the supply is large for the time of year. 



Throughout the month the wool trade has been in a mobt 

 depressed state, and prices of all kinds of wool have given 

 way nearlj', or quite. Id. per lb. The public sales are likely 

 to go off heavily at further depressed rates, since nearly or 

 quiie 6I),000 bales will be offered during their progress. 



Store stock, arising from the heaviness in the demand for 

 fat beasts and sheep, has ruled heavy and drooping. The 

 business done has been very trifling. 



Throughout Ireland and Scotland there has been no im- 

 portant movement in the corn trade Wheat has continued 

 dull and flour has ruled lower, but dther articles have mostly 

 supported former terms. From Scotland steady shipments 

 of produce have been made to the south, but the exports 

 from Ireland have shown a great deficiency when compared 

 with many former corresponding seasons. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Notwithstanding that the trade of the country is recover- 

 ing from the effects of the late panic, that consumption is 

 rather on the increase, and that the importations from the 

 continent still continue limited — compared with many pre- 

 vious corresponding periods of the year— the cattle trade has 

 been in a very unsatisfactory state during the whole of the 

 month, and a severe fall has taken place in the quotations. 

 Whatever may have been urged to the contrary in some 

 quarters, it is now clearly apparent that production has 

 over taken consumption. And who, we may ask, can feel 

 surprised at this result, which reflects the highest credit 

 upon our breeders and feeders .» and, further, may we not 



