THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



177 



ESSEX. 



The eunshine of the past fortnight has produced its usual 

 beneficial effect upon the crops generally ; but it caunot coun- 

 teract the baneful one of tlie past unfavourable season, as not 

 only has the quantity of rain which has fallen within the past 

 six mouths far exceeded that withiu the memory of most 

 people, but it has been accompanied with frosty nights, 

 making it still more unwelcome. The cereal crops generally 

 have sutfered severely; and although the wheat is looking 

 tolerably well is places, it is the exception. Upou the hea- 

 vier description of lands, and especially so in the Dengey and 

 Rochford imndreda, the yield altogether is not likely to be 

 more than half that of the past year, the wheat making the 

 best show, and barley and oata a very bad one. Central of 

 the county, the corn is looking better ; but in the 

 Roothing district the aspect is gloomy. John Barleycorn 

 appears to have suffered most, having evidently been under 

 the influence of much drink, and, in the absence of taking the 

 pledge, which might be considered derogatory to his charac- 

 ter, looks very pale. He has, however, brightened up 

 lately, but in some cases is so weak, that it is doubtful whe- 

 ther he will ever arrive at maturity, Oats are generally look- 

 ing very badly, and will produce but a scanty crop. The 

 pulse crops are very unequal, and in some cases very promis- 

 ing, aud, should they escape blight, which has not yet 

 affected them, will do well. Mangel-wurzel has not been 

 able to make so good a show as for many years past, and in 

 some cases has suffered much from hailstorms and the ravages 

 of the wireworm ; but, with a continuance of the present con- 

 genial weather will most probably produce a fair crop : how- 

 ever, as it made but a very late start in growth, it is not 

 likely to become a heavy one. The hay-crop, both of clover 

 and grass, is generally good, and, with the exception of a 

 small portion that was cut early, has been generally well se- 

 cured. — July 14. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, 

 FAIRS. &c. 



BANBURY FAIR.— There was no great supply of either 

 beasts or sheep, aud both beef and mutton continue dear, 

 little of either selling under 5s. to Ss. 6d. per Slbs., in some 

 instances obtaining still higher rates. 



BROMYARD FAIR was but thinly attended, and very 

 scantily supplied with stock. The few fat cows shown brought 

 from 8jd. to 9d., and sheep TJd.to 8d. per lb. Pigs rather in 

 advance. 



CHIPPENHAM GREAT MARKET.— The wool trade at 

 the opening was dull, but before the close a clearance was 

 made of about 16,000 fleeces, at the following prices : Teg 

 wool, 463. to 473. 6d. ; mixed, 448. to 46s. ; ewes, 42s. to 438. 

 6d, per tod of 281bs. Mr. John Moore, of Littlecot, received 

 the prize for the best Southdown ram, and Mr. Franckom, 

 of Badminton, for the best longwool, both prizes given by 

 Walter Long, Esq., M.P. 



DURSLEY MONTHLY MARKET.— There was a great 

 supply of cheese of superior quality, which sold readily at 

 638. to 653. 



GLASGOW FAIR.— The market was a dull one, and if 

 we except a fe'w horses of the very highest class, prices were 

 even lower than they had hitherto been. 



GLOUCESTER MONTHLY MARKET.— Good beef, 

 mutton, and lamb were scarce, consequently former prices 

 were fully maintained. The market was soon cleared at the 

 following prices : Beef 7d. to 7^d., mutton 74d. to 8d., lamb 

 8id. to 9d. per lb. 



HORSHAM LAMB FAIR.— The supply was unusually 

 short, estimated at something like 4,000 less than the average 

 number penned. They were exceedingly dear, although not 

 at all well up in condition. Notwithstanding the high prices 

 demanded, almost every one was sold, lambs selling as high as 

 303., and even ordinary cull lambs making 203. Lean bullocks 

 were also very dear. 



OVERTON FAIR.— [From our own Correspondent.] — 

 This fair fully maintained the pre-eminence it has so long 

 claimed, both with regard to the quantity penned and the 

 superiority of the «tock. Compared with last year the num- 

 ber of Umbs peaaed wn not ao gre^t j thii ulling off may 



be easily accounted for, from the numbers that have already 

 fallen beneath the knife of the butcher : the high prices that 

 have prevailed for lamb through the season has tempted 

 breeders mto the fat meat market ; hence the probability, from 

 the diminished stock of mutton hereafter to be found, that still 

 higher prices for this article are likely to be established. The 

 show of stock exhibited for prizes was first-rate ; nothing 

 attracted more attention than the pen of cross-bred lambs 

 exhibited by Mr. Dowling, of Hannington — for symmetry, size, 

 and meat-ptoducing qualities they carried off the palm. The 

 effects of the uutowardjseason was evident : many of the ewea 

 in the fair were very poor. The trade was not brisk, but very 

 dear, about Ss. per head above last year's prices. The range 

 in prices was wide, viz., ewes SOs to SOs., wethers 353. to 48a., 

 lambs 22s. to 453. per head. The cup of 10 guineas value, 

 given by Sir Francis ThornhiU Baring, M.P., for the best pen 

 of 100 wether lambs, was awarded to Mr. G. Wigg, of Basing. 

 For the second best pen a cup of 5 guineas' value, the gift of 

 Mr. Sclater-Booth, M.P., was awarded to Mr. Digweed, of 

 Basing. A cup of 10 guineas' value, offered by Mr. W. W. B. 

 Beach, M.P., for the best 80 wether lambs, was won by Mr. 

 James Parker, of Latham. The Earl of Carnarvon's cup, of 

 5 guineas' value, for the best 60 wether lambs, was carried off 

 by Mr. Dowling, of Hannington. A cup of 10 guineas' value 

 was offered by Mr. Melville Portal, late M.P. for North Hants, 

 for the beat pen of ewes, not less than 50, or more than 100, 

 and after a severe competition it waa obtained by Mr. F. 

 Bailey, of Candover. The Duke of Wellington's 5-guinea 

 cup for the second beat pen was awarded to Mr. Neate, of 

 Overton. A cup of 10 guineas' value, the gift of the Earl of 

 Portsmouth, for the best ram, produced 14 competitors, and 

 waa ultimately obtained by Mr. Bennett, of Chilmark, Wilts. 

 Viscount Eversley's cup of 5 guineas' value, for the best pen 

 of ram lambs, was given to Mr. Neate, of Overton. The prize 

 sheep and Iambs realized high prices. 



OAKHAM FAIR.— There was a very limited show, and 

 only a small amount of business was transacted. 



SHERBORNE FAIR.— There was a fair average of sheep 

 for this fair, but the trade was very slack, and but few were 

 sold. There was a good pen of 100 four-tooth Down wethera, 

 which fetched 44b. per head. Mutton 7d, to 8d., lamb 8d. 

 per lb. There were but few fat beasts, which were readily 

 sold at 12s. per score. Heifers and calves met an extremely 

 dull sale, and scarcely any were sold. One prime Jersey 

 heifer and calf were sold at about £15. There was a great 

 number of Irish one aud two-year-old heifers, a few of which 

 were sold at from £4 10s. to £5 lOs. each. Pigs were brisk, 

 at an advance of 2d. in the st. Sows fetched from 55s. to 

 609. each. 



SPILSBY FAIR.— There were only few good fat beast*, 

 and they were readily disposed of at Qa. to 9a. 6d. per st. 

 Mutton was a dull trade, and prices had a downward ten- 

 dency, 7d. per lb. being about the top price. Store beasts 

 were a heavy trade, and, except for the best quality, purchases 

 might be made on lower terms, 



ST. BOS WELL'S FAIR.— The following are the lots of 

 the three-fourth part bred sheep which met purchasers : —The 

 Rink lot brought 24s., and the Sintan lot 22s. 9d. Mr. Wal- 

 die, Kelao, sold Mr. William Dudgeon, Musselburgh, a lot at 

 278. ; Nether Barn'a lot brought 24s. 9d. ; Mr. Paterson got 

 for his 25s. 6d, ; the Stitchell lot brought 233. 9d. ; Mr. Ord, 

 Nisbet, got 228. ; Mr. Tait, Lindean, 23s. ; Mr. Johnstone, 

 Huntingdon, 24s. ; the Blegbie lot was sold at 2l9. ; Mr. 

 Runciman, Watton-wslls, got 22a., Mr. Hogg, Clackmac, got 

 253, 6d. The exhibition of gimmera was not as was expected ; 

 and although large prices were got for the better class, infe- 

 rior kinds were entirely neglected. The lambs would be from 

 Is. 9d. to 23. above last year; the gimmers would be — those 

 in condition — 33. a-head, and the inferior kind from la. to 28. 

 above last year. 



STRATFORD-ON-AVON FAIR.— There was a very li- 

 mited supply of fat stock, and a good attendance of buyers, 

 who were compelled to buy for immediate wants at the high 

 prices asked by the farmers, who were not wilhng to submit 

 to any reduction. This caused a very hanging sale both in 

 beef and mutton, which we may quote at 8d. per lb. for beat 

 qualities. Not more than 1,200 sheep penned. There was a 

 good ihow of lambs, which brought high prices. Of store cat. 

 tie there was a good quantity for sale, which hung he?ivily on 

 b»Qd. 



