THE farmf:r's magazine. 



from the want of means amongst the foreign growers. And 

 this is especially the case in the Baltic ports and in the far 

 west in the United States, where there is still an immense 

 amountof food on hand. No doubt there must be a limit to the 

 downward movement in the value of wheat ; but ere we can 

 predict improvinj; markets and greater confidence amongst 

 the home growers and the continental shippers, we must see 

 a revival of speculation, an accumulation of supply in our 

 warehouses, and a less amount of anxiety on the part of 

 the importers to realize at almost any sacrifice ; but another 

 heavy crop of wheat in the great districts of the world — 

 an event which may be safely predicted— would lead to fur- 

 ther depression and loss. We have stated that our farmers 

 hold very large quantities of wheat for the time of year. 

 Fortunately for themselves they have, for some time past, 

 thrashed out very moderate supplies, or we should have had 

 prices considerably lower than they now are. However, the 

 quotations now require regulation, that is to say, the sup- 

 plies of produce on offer should be governed by the demand, 

 and the exercise of more discretion and judgment will be 

 absolutely necessary on the part of the foreign houses than 

 hitherto, or we shall have wheat selling at a much lower range 

 than barley. We do not, however, apprehend any perma- 

 nent fall in the value of either barley, oats, beans, or peas, 

 because we think that the time has now arrived when a fair 

 estimate may be made of the yield of those articles, and 

 which estimate is in favour of a very moderate — perhaps 

 we may say a limited— growth. Besides, we muot bear in 

 mind that horde stocks are almost wholly exhausted, and that 

 our chief consumption must be met by foreign importations. 



The hay harvest has been pretty generally commenced 

 around the metropolis. The produce may be considered a 

 fiiir average one ; but it is certainly one-third less than last 

 year, which, it will be recollected, was the largest growth 

 on record. There is still a large supply of old hay in stack 

 but the quotations rule low and the demand has not im- 

 proved. The great abundance of green crops has checked 

 any upward movement in price ; but our impression is that 

 fine old hay will become dearer as the 3'ear advances. 



The crop of swedes and mangels is coming up, and is quite 

 as forward as in the general run of years ; but like spring 

 corn, it stands much in need of moisture. Last year's 

 growth has lasted remarkably well, notwithstanding that 

 the demand from the cowkeepers and others has been very 

 extensive. 



The falling-off in our exports of raw spirit has formed 

 the subject of much discussion of late. The quantity ex- 

 ported in the first five months of 1857 was 2,796,ol7 gals.? 

 but in the same time this year it has been only 525,446 

 gals. This great decrease is to be attributed chiefly to the 

 cessation of the temporary cause which led to so great a 

 demand for British spirits in France, owing to the failure of 

 the wine crop. To France alone, the exports in the above 

 period in 1857 amounted to 1,926,202 gallons, and in the 

 present year they arc reduced to 25,774 gals., or from a va- 

 lue of £429,933 to that of £3,658. This great falling-off 

 in the shipments must lead to a considerable decline in the 

 consumption of barley in our distilleries, and have the effect 

 of checking any rapid upward movement in the value of 

 distilling qualities. For some time great complaints have 

 been made respecting the state of the malt trade. At Mark 

 Lane and in the large provincial markets, malt has con- 

 tinued heavy, and depressed rates have been the conse- 

 quence, even though supplies have not been large, and 

 though the consumption of malt liquor has been favoured 

 owing to the extreme heat of the weather, 



Notwithstanding that there has been no actual excess in 

 supplies, compared with some previous seasons, the cattle 

 trade has been far from active. Prime sheep and lambs 

 have mostly sold at what may be termed full quotations ; 

 but other kinds of stock have ruled somewhat easier in 

 price. 



From nearly all parts of the United Kingdom, our ac- 

 counts respecting the appearance of the potato crop are 

 very favourable. The haulm is looking healthy, and, as 

 yet, the tubers show no signs of disease. It is, however, 

 far too early to form anything like a correct estimate of the 

 aggregate produce. The stocks of old potatoes are now ex- 

 hausted ; and new qualities are iu request at from Gs. to 

 18s. per cwt. 



The demand for most kinds of English wool has been 

 comparatively active, and prices have had an upward ten- 

 dency. The advance is likely to be maintained, as trade in 

 the manufacturing districts is improving, and as the stocks 

 held are very moderate. In the value of foreign and 

 colonial wool, little or no change has taken place. The 

 stock of the latter now on hand is over G2,000ba'es, against 

 40,000 bales at the same period last year. 



In Ireland and Scotland the demand for wheat, barley, 

 oats, and all other produce has continued very inactive, at 

 almost nominal quotations. The shipments of oats from 

 Ireland have been trifling ; but those from Scotland have 

 continued large for the time of year. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Seasonably large supplies of both beasts and sheep have 

 been on sale in the Great Metropolitan Market throughout 

 the month ; but, for the most part they have appeared in. 

 but middling condition, consequently there has been a wide 

 difference between the value of the primest aud the most 

 inferior breeds. Notwithstanding that very little country- 

 killed meat has been received up to Newgate and Leaden- 

 hall, in consequence of the hot weather, the trade has been 

 rather inactive ; indeed, the only stock which has com- 

 manded what may be termed a steady demand have been 

 the primest old sheep and most breeds of lambs, both of 

 which have realized extreme, in some instances very high, 

 rates. Some of the former have produced as much as 5s.— 

 out of the wool of course, and some of the latter over 7s. 

 per Bibs. The consumption of meat in London has, we 

 think, equalled most past corresponding seasons, and we see 

 no reason to look forward to what may be termed low quota- 

 tions : nevertheless, it can scarcely be presumed that we 

 shall have a return of a period of high prices — so dangerous 

 both to the graziers and butchers in the long run, — because 

 our impression is, contrary reports notwithstanding, that 

 there is now a large available supply of stock in the country. 

 True, we see no prospect of large importations from the 

 continent, even though the demand for France, both in 

 Holland, Belgium, and Spain, has fallen off; but most of 

 our correspondents state that our leading districts are well 

 stocked for the time of year. There is, however, some dc 

 ficiency in the north of Scotland, caused by the large num- 

 bers of beasts which have been sold for the south from 

 time to time, and which to some extent have checked the 

 supplies usually forwarded to England. 



The " Norfolk" season for beasts is now drawing to a 

 close, and that from Lincolnshire has just commenced. As 

 yet, only about 1,000 shorthorns have made the'r appear- 

 ance in the Metropolitan Market from the latter county ; 



