THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 JUNE. 



During the greater portion of the month, the weather in 

 nearly all parts of the United Kingdom has been otherwise 

 than propitious for the growing crops ; and the accounts which 

 have from time to time reached us in reference to the wheat 

 have been unsatisfactory. It is possible that some of the 

 advices are too highly coloured ; but, at the same time, we 

 glean from them that not only are the crops very backward, 

 but that, in numerous instances, they are very thin upon 

 the ground. It seems to follow, therefore, that this year's 

 yield of wheat is likely to show a deficiency when com- 

 pared with some former seasons. At the same time, how- 

 ever, we would remark that we ourselves are not prepared 

 to endorse the opinion so freely offered by some persons 

 that that deficiency will be so extensive or so general as to 

 create alarm on the part of consumers, or to enhance the 

 quotations considerably above their present level. The 

 heavy-land wheats, we freely admit, show at present a very 

 middling return ; but the crops we have seen in ear on 

 many light lands are looking more promising than was the 

 case in 1859, in which year, it will be recollected, the 

 growth was a deficient one. Of one thing, however, we 

 feel justified in saying that the entire yield for the country 

 cannot possibly exceeed an average, even though we may 

 be favoured with a continuance of fine weather between 

 this and the close of harvest operations. 



We have now reached a most critical period for the crop. 

 Within a short period it will be in bloom, and, in the event 

 of high winds and heavy showers of rain continuing, our 

 hopes of even a moderate return may be destroyed. With- 

 out speculating further upon this point, we may turn our 

 attention to the present state of our rick-yards, and the 

 condition of our warehouses in which are deposited foreign 

 and colonial produce. In the first place, we may state 

 without hesitation that a very moderate quantity of last 

 year's crop of wheat is now in the hands of home-growers, 

 aud, further, that very little of the crop of 1858 is to be 

 met \yith. In the second place, we may fairly estimate the 

 supplies of foreign grain and flour in warehouse and at the 

 outports at fully one-half the quantity in hand at the cor- 

 responding period last year. Here, then, is exhibited a 

 serious— perhaps some may term it an alarming— deficiency. 

 No doubt, it has had its influence upon prices, which, since 

 January last, have advanced from 20s. to 24s. per qr. ; and 

 that influence will be more generally felt in the event of the 

 crop proving seriously deficient. 



The great falling off in our warehoused stocks has arisen 

 from the miserably low prices which prevailed during the 

 last six months of 1859, and which, of course, tended to 

 check operations in produce abroad for shipment to England 

 in the spring. The want of orders from this side was se- 

 verely felt by the Continental farmers in the period here 

 alluded to, and the result has been that hitherto, this sea- 

 sou, we have failed to draw our usual supplies from usual 

 sources. Now, however, great activity is everywhere ap- 

 parent. Enormous quantities of produce, drawn, be it ob- 

 served, from imminse stocks, are still in progress of ship- 

 ment, not only from the Baltic, but likewise the Mediter- 

 ranean and Black Sea ports. America, too, is now 

 shipping increased quantities of wheat and flour, at rates 

 which leave a fair margin of profit to the operators. Much, 

 however, yet remains to be accomplished, since a very mode- 

 rate calculation shows that it will be necessary for us to 

 import at least three million quarters of wheat, exclusive of 

 our usual supplies of spring corn, maize, and flour, to meet 

 national wants. That enormous quantity may be imported ; 

 but in order to secure so large an amount of food, great 

 efforts must be made on the part of the importers. 



The contmuance of wet weather has delayed the 

 commencement of the hay harvest. As far as can be ascer- 



tained, the crop of grass this season is by no means large, 

 arising [from ^the want of forcing weather to bring it to ma- 

 turity. Great inroads have been made upon last year's stocks 

 of hay, and the want of new qualities has resulted in arising 

 prices, both in London and the provinces. At present meadow 

 hay is worth £3 Ss. to £5 5s., clover ditto £4 4a. to £6, and 

 straw £1 78. to £1 143. per load. The quantity of the latter 

 on offer is still very large for the lime of year. 



The cattle markets, though less active than in the previous 

 month, have continued somewhat excited, arising from the 

 very moderate nature of the supplies of fat stock on offer. 

 The value of beasts has further ad?anced ; but other descrip- 

 tions of stock, arising, no doubt, Irom a considerable falling-off 

 in the consumption, have ruled lower in price. That the 

 numbers, generally, in England have diminished during the 

 last two or three years, notwithstanding that we have imported 

 liberally from the Continent, is very evident from the state of 

 our markets. It is, however, gratifying to find that Scotland 

 is now well supplied with store animals. One account from 

 thence states that not only is store stock abundant, but that, 

 in proof of the assertion, most of the grass lands have been 

 let for the season at from twenty to twenty-five per cent, above 

 last year's rents. 



Very few unfavourable reports have come to hand in refer- 

 ence to the potato crop, but, of coarse, it would be premature 

 to offer any decided opinion upon it thus early ; but we may 

 remark, in support of views which we ourselves have long con- 

 sidered correct ones, that much larger quantities of old 

 potatoes, in good saleable condition, have been disposed of in 

 London during the month just concluded than in many pre- 

 vious corresponding periods. The result is that prices have 

 given way considerably, and that really fine Scotch potatoes 

 have sold as low as 110s. to 1403. per ton, against 2003. per 

 ton in June, 1859. The growers have naturally expressed 

 themselves much disappointed at these currencies, which,, by 

 the way, prove that many reports of absolute scarcity should 

 be received with much caution. The importation of new pota- 

 toes from the Continent has commenced ; but, as yet, the 

 quantity received into London has not exceeded five hundred 

 tons. The quotations range from 7s. to 10s. per cwt. 



Notwithstanding that the hop-bine has not progressed satis- 

 factorily, there has been no movement in the demaad for any 

 kind of hops, nevertheless, prices h ive been mostly supported. 

 The duty has been called £180,000, aud £170,000 to 

 £175,000. 



The limited stocks held in the manufacturing districta, and 

 the steadiness in the demand on Continental account, have 

 produced considerable firmness in the value of all kinds of 

 wool. Nearly the whole of last year's clip has been disposed 

 of, and, as yet, very little of the new clip has changed bauds. 

 Foreign and Colonial qnalities have sold slowly at ths recent 

 decline. The stocks of the latter in London are now nearly 

 80,000 bales, against 90,000 bales last year. The next auc- 

 tions, which will be shortly announced, will, therefore, be 

 somewhat large. 



lu Ireland aud Scotland the grain trade has shown less J 

 activity. Prices, however, have been fairly supported; and I 

 the shipments of produce to England have contiuued on a " 

 very moderate scale. The stocks, almost generally, appear to 

 be much reduced. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Notwithstanding that unusually large numbers of foreign 

 stock have been imported into London since we last wrote— 

 the total being 34,921 head— and that increased supplies of 

 home-fed sheep have come forward, prices generally, though 

 they have exhibited some decline from the extreme point, have 

 continued very high. The butchers and consumers have, of 

 coarse, naturally taken exception to this, atate of things, and 



