THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



83 



the result ia that consumption has rapidly fallen off. Aa has 

 been the case for some months past, both beasts and aheep 

 have continued to arrive in very middling condition ;. hence, 

 the quantity of meat actually disposed of has, in a comparative 

 sense, been very moderate. We have already enlarged upon 

 the causes which have, in our opinion, produced the preseut 

 unusually high rates ; consequently it may be unnecessary for 

 us at the present time to refer to the past. We may, how- 

 ever, direct attention to the future, which, we need scarcely 

 say, is looked forward to with considerable anxiety by all 

 classes. The Norfolk season for beasts is now drawing to a 

 close, and it must be admitted on all hands that it has pro- 

 duced a more inferior stock, as to weight and condition, than 

 during the last ten years. But the question now to solve is — 

 what are our prospects as regards Lincolnshire, Scotland, and 

 Ireland, from whence we shall draw the bulk of our supplies 

 during the next six months? The long continuance of damp 

 weather, though by no means favourable to the grain crops, 

 has produced a great abundance of grass in Lincolnshire : that 

 abundance has rapidly increased the weight of the stock, with- 

 out an extensive use of oil-cake ; but we learn that in some 

 quarters, owing to the want of adequate numbers of beasts, 

 much difficulty has been experienced in keeping down the 

 grass in the pastures. The health of the stock having been 

 good, and as no losses of importance have been reported to us, 

 we arrive at the conclnsiou that we shall receive additional 

 supplies of beasts from the county here referred to during the 

 remainder of the year ; but any large excess in the usual num- 

 bers caunot reasonably be anticipated. As regards Scotland, 

 from whence during the present year we have derived limited 

 numbers, we may observe that lean stock is abundant — that 

 the grass lauds have been let at enhanced rales, but that the 

 supplies fit for transmission to England are still limited. For 

 some time, therefore, we shall be chiefly dependent upon 

 home and foreign arrivals to meet consumption. From 

 Ireland our advices are by no means satisfactory. Both 

 beasts and sheep are represented as very scarce 

 and dear; whilst it is a pretty general impression that larger 

 numbers were shipped to England last year than the country 

 could well afford to lose. From these remarks, it may be 

 gathered that most kinds of meat have seen their highest 

 range ; but, at the same time, when we consider the enormous 

 consumption going on in the United Kingdom, we are not 

 prepared to say that any important decline is likely to take 

 place in the quotations at any period during the present year. 



The imports of foreign stock into London have been on a 

 very extensive scale as to numbers, but they have mostly come 

 to hand in very poor condition ; and it is remarked that fewer 

 beasts have, ss yet, arrived from Denmark than usual. We 

 are aware that the prices realized for them last year were very 

 low, and possibly the graziers have this season refused to send 

 to a market, from which hitherto the returns have been very 

 poor. The stTingent regulations at the Custom House as 

 regards diseased cattle, may, perhaps, have kept out large 

 numbers, which otherwise would have fonnd theii way to this 

 country. 



Annexed are the particulars of imports into the metropolis 

 during the psst month : — 



HEAD. 



Beasts 2,469 



Sheep 27.154 



Lambs 2,459 



Calves 1.913 



Pigs 926 



Total 34,921 



Same time in 1859 18,875 



1858 17,720 



„ 1857 13,551 



1856 10,136 



The total supplies exhibited in the Metropolitan Cattle 

 Market, derived from «ll sources, were as under : — 



HEAD. 



Beasts 18,740 



Cows 520 



Bheep and lambs 149,630 



Calve 2,703 



Pig* , M .. 3,830 



Comparison of Supplies. 

 June. Beasts. Sheep& Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 



1859 18,593 159,650 2,967 2,152 



1858 18,492 144,280 2,972 3,115 



1857...... 20,063 108,480 2,404 2,125 



1856 17,896 112,110 1,839 2,740 



Last week about 11,000 beasts came to hand from Norfolk, 

 Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire ; 3,800 from other parts 

 of England, and only 79 from Scotland. 



Beef has sold at from 4s. 2d. to Ss. lOd.; mutton, 48. to 5s. 

 8d. ; lamb, 5s. to 7s. ; veal, 49. 6d. to 5s. 8d. ; and pork, 4s. 

 to 5s. 2d. per 8 lbs. to sink the otTal. These quotations show 

 an advance of from 6d. to, in some instances, Is. per stone 

 compared with last year. 



Newgate and Leadenhall markets have continued to be 

 scantily supplied with meat, which has realized quotations cor- 

 responding to those of live stock. 



THE ISLE OF ELY. 

 Believing that in an exceptional season, such as we have 

 passed through for the last nine months, a description of 

 the present state and future prospects of this district of the 

 country will be acceptable, I propose to give you a short 

 statement of facts, and to offer a few remarks in reference 

 to the future. The neighbourhood from which I write is a 

 low flat level country, mostly below the level of spring 

 tides ; but the main outfalls, as well as the internal drain- 

 age, have been -within the last few years so much improved, 

 that, notwithstanding the incessant fall of rain, the land has 

 generally been, saved from inundation. The lands, composed 

 chiefly of vegetable matter (and they comprise a large area), 

 have suflfered much from the inclemency of the season. 

 The wheat crop — the staple one of the district— on such 

 lands is generally thin of plant, and two to three weeks 

 later than usual ; and must be far below the average of 

 years. The oats are also backward, and very much in- 

 jured by the high winds and frost, and greatly thinned by 

 wireworm. Mangolds are well planted, but the fallows for 

 coleseed are in a very backward state, and if the rains 

 continue a few days longer, cannot possibly be got clean 

 this season. Potatoes are generally well planted. On the 

 heavier descriptions of soils the wheat plant is much more 

 promising. At the beginning of the rainy season there was 

 great fear that the plant would grow too fast, weak, and 

 flaggy, but the incessant rain, accompanied with a cold 

 temperature, has had the contrary effect, and the plant has 

 stiffened and lightened both in colour and flag, and but for 

 tlie extreme lateness in coming into ear, on the whole must 

 be said to promise well. The early kinds are now mostly 

 showing the ear. The oats, too, on this description of soil, 

 promise well upon the whole. Potatoes, as on the fen 

 lands, are well planted ; so are the mangolds, of which 

 there is a large breadth. Grass is abundant, both on pas- 

 ture and old meadow lands ; but the clover crops generally 

 are not good. The fallows are in a woeful plight. I have 

 scarcely been able to move a horse upon them for the last 

 month. Every one knows how dear meat is, and no one 

 seems to know when it is to be cheaper. Neither beasts 

 nor sheep do well, the weather is too cold and wet for them. 

 During the past winter, there was unquestionably a great 

 mortality amongst the flocks, coupled at the same time 

 with an unusual consumption of butchers' meat of all kinds. 

 Being a late spring, the grass beasts are generallya month 

 more backward than they commonly are. Wool is selling 

 well at from 47s. to 51s. per tod, and more large clips sold 

 than ever I knew so early in the season. The farmers in 

 this part hold less of both wheat and oats than has been the 

 case for the last ten years. I forgot to say the beans are 

 generally bad. After the description 1 have given, you 

 will readily conclude we are quite ready for another har- 

 vest. The year 1859 will long. I hope, rank as the worst 

 harvest ever experienced in the fens. As the time for 

 judging of the prospects of the coming harvest advances, 

 the crops may be spoken of with more certainty.— June 25. 



SUFFOLK. 

 Never do we remember a more unpropitious appearance, 

 A ijjt hot Jbw i» tlw pr«lBde t? nbundwce. We bsve Jis^i 



