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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE* 



CoMPARIiJON OF SUPPLIES. 



Sent. Beasts. Cows. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. 



1855 24,667 540 152,120 2,477 3,921 



1856 24,002 485 132,014 2,452 2.800 



1857 25,734 532 127,715 2,220 2,585 



1858 27,44() 533 131,150 3,210 4,281 



1859.'.*!!.. 24,560 514 145,430 1,891 2,771 



The arrivals of 'jcasts from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, 

 and Northamptonshire have amounted to 12,000 shorthorns 

 and crosses; from other parts of England, 3,300 of vaiious 

 breeds; from Scotland, 6 Scots and crosses ; and from Ireland, 

 1,614 oxen and heifers. The numhera of beasts in the stalls 

 in Scotland are represented as very large for the time of year ; 

 hence, we may look forward to increased arrivals during the 

 next three months : we hear that most of the animals will 

 not be forwarded otherwise than in good saleable condition. 



Beef has been disposed of at from 2s. 8d. to 4s. 8d. ; mut- 

 ton, 33. 4d. to 5s. 4d. ; veal, 45. to 5s. 4d. ; and pork, 43. to 

 5s. 2d. per 8 lbs. to sink the offal : the trade during the last 

 week of the month closing at reduced rates upon those just 

 quoted. 



Comparison of Pp..ices. 



Sept., 1855. Sept., 1856. 



t. d. 8. d. s. d. r. d. 



Beef, from 3 4 to 5 .... 3 to 4 10 



Mutton 3 4 to 5 3 8 to 5 2 



Veal 3 10 to 5 2 .... 3 6 to 4 10 



Pork 3 6 to 4 6 .... 3 6 to 4 8 



Sept., 1857. 

 s. d. s. d. 

 Beef, from 3 2 to 5 . , 

 Mutton . . 3 4 t3 5 6 . . 

 Veal 3 4 to 5 2 . . 



Pork. 



Sept., 1858. Sept., 1859. 

 s. d. s. d. a. d. s. d. 



2 10 to 5 0.. 2 8 to 4 10 



3 to 5 0.. 2 10 to 5 2 

 3 8 to 5 0..3 4 to 4 8 



,4 0to5 2.. 3 0to4 6.. 3 6 to 4 6 



Increased supplies of meat having been on offer in Newgate 

 and Lesdenhall markets, the trade has ruled heavy, and the 

 quotations had a downward tendency. Beef has sold at from 

 2s. 6d. to 4s. 4d. ; mutton, 33. 2d. to 43. 6d ; veal, 43. 4d. to 

 43. 8d. ; pork, 4s. 4d, to 5s. 4d. per 81bs. by the carcase. 



DERBYSHIRE. 

 We have completed one of the most tedious hay harvests 

 we ever remember, having lasted in the hands of many 

 farmers ten weeks — an early beginning with a late conclu- 

 sion. A little has been gathered well, and much in bad 

 condition. Small mowings and small gatherings [are cer- 

 tainly the wise part of the affair. One large bolder had 

 cut down 50 acres, and had hardly a ton of good secured 

 well. As a necessary consequence it must command a good 

 price during the winter months. Our corn harvest is pro- 

 ceeding in the south of the county, and slowly so in the 

 northern parts. In the vrestern districts a good deal of 

 corn will never be ripe, and must be cut to make what it 

 will. The aspect of the county is good, as far as grass is 

 concerned, and we have a fair quantity of fog in our pas- 

 tures. ^\'"eeds are everywhere in advance of labour, and 

 the effect of the cold wet summer is everywhere to be seen. 

 The fallow fields are very little better for the summer rest 

 and stirring. In addition to this, autumu cleaning of land 

 seems out of the question, the weather being against it, and 

 the tedious harvest absorbing all labour. The potato crop 

 is deficient, and only good on the best dry soils. Turnips 

 are light in the bulb, and have wanted more warmth. The 

 same may be said of mangold wurtzel, which will be infe- 

 rior: there is plenty of top, but small bottoms. And thus 

 we go on grumbling, and think we have a right to do so, as 

 much as other classesof the community ; and the adage is 

 fully confirmed that dry summers beg no bread, and wet 

 ones entail misery. Fat stock continues to realize high 

 prices, and, .should trade continue good, is likely to do so. 

 Lean stock is becoming more difficult of sale. Our corn 

 markets keep well up, and depressing news from the metro- 

 pohs has vftry little influence on the holders of old corn • 

 they say, " We will hold on." And so they do ; and for- 

 tunate indeed it ia for the country that the quantity on 

 hand is very ample, aud that though one of the worst sum- 

 mers has nearly p.isscd away, we still get a good supply of 

 old wheat at a reasonable price. Our labour market has 



given way a little, and fortunate it is that it is so, or the 

 disasters of an unfavourable harvest would have been 

 greater ; we can now get men for money, which has not 

 been the case of late. The reaping machine is gradually 

 being introduced in all our leading districts, and is well 

 spoken of. In a neighbouring county (Notts,) the number 

 has been still greater. We have heard of 20s. per acre being 

 given for the cutting of wheat by hand. With such a crop 

 we suppose the reaper would be at fault, but they are 

 powerful aids in the lighter. — Sept. 18. 



HEREFORD SHIRE. 

 We had last week some fine harvest weather, which en- 

 abled the farmers to get together a good deal of corn. Bat 

 on Sunday rain again fell, and on Monday it was a perfect 

 deluge, On Wednesday carrying was resumed, and should 

 we be blessed with a fortnight of fine weather a vast breadth 

 of land will in that time be cleared. The wheat crops are 

 undoubtedly heavy in the ear, as well as good in the straw, 

 and such as has already been thrashed out makes wonder- 

 fully good weight. We have our fears that many persons 

 have been premature in getting their ricks together, and iu 

 more than one instance have they been obliged to be taken 

 to pieces. There is still much corn to be cut, and as it 

 ripens slowly it will be long before the harvest is quite 

 finished. Mangel wurzels for the most part promise to be 

 small, and the same may be said of swede turnips. Pota- 

 toes we regret to say are ■-'oing badl}', and we anticipate 

 high prices before spring. Earlj'-planted ones are the best : 

 we do not mean early sorts, but such at were planted early. 

 Those that were planted late will be scarce, with the expense 

 of digging. The rain has brought up an abundant supply 

 of grass, which will, if the winter is not severe, in a measure 

 supply the deficiency in the root crops. Hay is with us 

 very dear now, having been sold at .t'6 and £1 per ton, 

 Wc liave a great crop of apples, but the fruit is very small, 

 and without flavour from want of sun, and we consequently 

 anticipate the cider being of inferior quality. Meat still 

 continues high : lean stock at the late markets have been 

 selling toleriibly well. Horses are down in value excepting 

 first-class ones, which will always fetch remunerating prices. 

 Strong pigs sell well, but small stores are somewhat lower. 



SOUTH HERTFORDSHIRE. 

 The first fortnight in September was fine, and great use 

 was made of it in cutting aud carting a considerable breadth 

 of corn . Many stacks of oat-i and wheat, hastily put together, 

 have had to be moved — oats especially — from the straw being 

 green, having heated extensively. We fear very little wheat 

 has yet been carted in good order for grinding. We left 

 some wheat in the fields thirteen days after it was cut, and 

 then carted it, in fine condition for stacking, but not for 

 thrashing. Our millers say that, if they were not to kiln-dry 

 the new wheat, they could not use it. Since the 17th instant, 

 the weather has again been most unfavourable for the har- 

 vest ; and it is impossible to carry corn fit to bring to market 

 for many mouths. Indeed, the showers are now so frequent 

 that it is difficult to make any progress iu cutting corn ; 

 for if it is tied up wet, it will never dry in the sheaf. 

 In a drive round our neighbourhood the other day, we re- 

 gretted to see a large quantity of corn yet in the fields, a 

 considerable portion being uncut. The forward barley was 

 most of it carried in the dry weather, in very good order. That 

 which is now out out is suffering much in colour and coudi- 

 from, whilst some is sprouting fast. Two or three more showery 

 and warm days will do irreparable injury to the remaining 

 barley. Spring wheat, being weak in the straw, is generally 

 laid flat, and is sprouting extensively; but we do not yet find 

 autumn wheats sprouting to any extent. Beans, on well- 

 tilled lands, are a great crop of straw, and well podded. We 

 have measured some nine feet long in the straw on land of 

 fight staple. The beans will be weeks before they are fit to 

 stack, unless sun aud wind combine to dry them. A few 

 second cuts of clover were picked up before the wea- 

 ther changed for the worse, but many fields are 

 now mowed, aud will be of little valne for fodder. 

 The clover has not bloomed sufficiently well to produce seed. 

 The cry of bad crops of roots is universal. One neighbour 

 has stocked his mangolds with sheep, and another has ploughed 



