452 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



EAST SUFFOLK. 



The months of January and February were not so win- 

 terly as former years, yet attended with light frosts, and 

 scarcely any downfall, which brought the land into beauti- 

 ful tillage, and some quantity of spring corn was sown. 

 March set in with piercing north-east winds, severe frost, 

 and heavy fall of drifting snow, which stayed the progress 

 of sowing; this continued till the middle of the month, 

 from which time, although the weather has been variable, 

 it has been highly beneficial to spring sowing, and we can 

 scarcely record when the seed has been put in more ad- 

 vantageously for a crop. Three weeks since, wheat, from 

 the weather in March, was looking rusty, and on some light 

 lands, where the snow was drifted off, the blade was hardly 

 visible, and fears arose as to its recovery ; the late, and 

 present fine weather has quite established it in colour, and 

 indicates up to this time the appearance of an abundant 

 crop, and we consider it as forward as on average seasons. 

 The prices of barley, beans, and peas have been on a par 

 with wheat. There is a great portion of last year's large 

 crop in the growers' hands, many of whosn have concluded, 

 rather than sell 631bs. per bush, reds at 4"2s. per qr., to 

 hold over on rick. Barle}' is quite out, and maltsters leaving 

 off steeping. Beans and peas — a rarity to see a sample with 

 us. Grazing has been very unprofitable this season, and 

 we know of fat bullocks having been selling at lean prices. 

 —April 22. 



SOMERSETSHIRE. 



We are now favoured with as fine clear sky as 'u ever wit- 

 nessed iu this month, which has told accordingly upon the 

 growing crops of wheat, the forwardness and lusuriaut appear- 

 ance of which have not beeu exceeded for several years. It is 

 generally acknowledged that our prospects depend on a con- 

 tinuance of dry weather, and no heavy rains for an extra fine 

 crop, but that even the usual fall of rain will have a contrary 

 effect, more especially as regards the quality. Should the 

 forcing heut of the present month be followed by anything 

 like it in the next, we shall have an early kerning. The land 

 is certainly better prepared for dry forcing heat than for many 

 preceding years ; yet if it continue, it will tell on the late- 

 80WU crops, barley and beans especially. Winter beans are 

 just coming into bloom, and arc very promising. The early- 

 sown spring beans are nicely up : on shallow soils a dry month 

 will try them greatly, and must lessen their produce. The 

 early-sown barley and oats are very forward. Vetches and 

 the artificial green crops have grown very fast since the rain, 

 and we have more water in our brooks and pools than at any 

 time during the winter, which will prove of great service. 

 Our meadows are just ready for turning out, and their favour, 

 able appearance has tempted buyers to give much higher 

 prices than last year, for poor sheep one-year-off. Devons have 

 fetched as high aa 523. to 5Is., couples 50s. to 60s.— piices by 

 no means justified by the probable value of mutton or 

 wool. Poor stock has come down, but not by any means in 

 proportion to fat stock, which are a complete drug, and 

 must entail loss upon the dealers. We have promise of 

 fair blossom on the fruit-trees; the apple-trees being 

 expected to display their floral adornments within a fortnight. 

 Potatoes, which had been cut down by early frosts, have, within 

 the last few days, again sprung up above ground, and, if there 

 be no more frost, will go on rapidly. Some little business was 

 done last week in wheat at the advance, which has since been 

 wore than lost. Most of the wheat in the farmers' hands can 



be kept back ; and where it is held iu large quantities this will 

 be accomplished with but slight risk at present unusually low 

 prices ; so that it is probable we shall have short supplies before 

 uext harvest : and if foreign supplies also fall off, there is every 

 probability of wheat being able to more than maintain its 

 present value. The late fall in Mark Lane has been more 

 firmly withstood in our market than any previous depreciation- 

 White wheat, weighing 641b3. per bushel, is quoted at Ss. 9d.> 

 621b8. at 5s. 6d. ; red, 60 to 611b8. 5s., 621b3. 5g. 3d., 641bs.. 

 53. 42d. to 5s. 6J. Beans are in demand, at 43. 9d. to 5a. 3d 

 Oats are scarce, and sell readily at 2s. 9d. to 3s. 3d. Barley 

 does cot lie on hand, and realizes improved prices. Flour 

 fetches 31s. to 323. per 28uros. Mutton in the wool is sold 

 for 6|d. to 7d. per lb.; beef Qs. 6d. to 10s. 6d. per score, but 

 very little this week worth the latter price. Green bacon 6d. 

 to 6|d. per lb.; pigs 9a. per SOlbs. Little doing now in 

 cheese, the prices lately having been more stationary, the best 

 worth 603. per cwt. upwards. No quotable price for wool, 

 transactions being unreported. — 4th Month 23. 



MONTHLY RETURN. 



An Account shewing the Quantities op Corn 

 Grain, Meal, and Flour, imported into tuk 

 United Kingdom, and admitted to Home Con- 

 sumption, in the month of March, 1858. 



Species of Corn, Grairi 

 Meal, and Flour. 



Wheat 



Burley 



Oats 



ye 



Peas 



Beans 



Maize or Indian Corn . 



Buck Wheat 



Beer or Uigg 



Total of Corn and Grain 



Wheat Meal and Flour 



Barley Meal 



Oat Meal 



liyc Meal 



Pea Meal 



Indian Meal 



Buck Wheal Meal 



Total of Meal and Flour 



T~.,„.. A Imported 

 Imported c ^^ ... . i 

 f, , '^-, . from Britii-h 

 Irani foreisn ,, ■ ' 



n.-„„t,:„„ Possessions 

 Countries, out^f Europe 



<]i'9. bush. 



200741 

 65003 



22687 



4887 



2757 



23035 



100»31 



10 



qrs. busli. 

 SSO 4 



893 7 



52S298 



439' 

 153 





 172 



1 



qr.ib.' 



.." "l 

 "0 2.3 





 2 



1 20 

 1 10: 



1292 21 



Total. 



or«. bush. 



2011,22 3 



G5C03 6 



22687 3 



4887 2 



2770 



23835 7 



100S31 I 



10 3 



421448 I 



cwls. qr.lb. cwts. qr.lb. 



525590 



439" 



153 







172 



3 



14 



"0 S3 





 2 



1 2C 

 10 



52'.065 24 1293 3 21 5303.i9 17 



QUANTITIES OF CORN IMPORTED 



into LONDON, LIVERPOOL, HULL, NEWCASTLE, 

 BRISTOL, GLOUCESTER, PLYMOUTH, LEITH, GLASGOW, 

 DUNDEE, AND PERTH, IN THE WEEK ENDED APRIL 14. 



Corn, Flour, and 

 Meal. 



Wheat ,., 



Barley .•.»...«.. 



Oats .c... 



Rye .,.., 



Peas 



Beans........... 



Indian Corn .... 



Buck Wheat .... 



Here n,,:tt,,,i, 



