THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



167 



dant one, and statistics show that less Euglish wheat has been 

 sold since last harvest than in many previous years. There- 

 fore, although there may be a deficient crop, we can scarcely see 

 room for any important rise in llie quotations. As re^fards 

 sprinj( corn, however, we may safely ^tate that there is room 

 not only for great firmness, but ;ui upward movcuicnt in value. 

 The quantity produced in this country is never equal to the 

 demand, and we may take it for granted that there is a dffi. 

 cient yield. 



Although the trade and commerce of the country have as 

 yet shown no signs of increased vitality, the consumption of 

 food generally has been on the increase. The cattle tralc has 

 consequently assumed more firmness during tlie past forliiight, 

 and the amount of stock disposed of in the Metropolitan 

 Market has been ratlicr extensive. 



The produce of fruit this year is a full average one ; but we 

 understand that on the continent it is considerably less than 

 last season ; consequently, the importations have been on a 

 very limited scale. 



At length the wool trade has shown signs of vitality. Not- 

 withstanding that nearly 80,000 bales of colonial wool will 

 be offered at the public sales now in progi'ess, prices have ad- 

 vanced Id. per lb. English wool has likewise commanded 

 more money ; but within the last ten days the demand has 

 slackened, owing to the large quantities of the new clip on 

 offer. 



Owing to the splendid prospect of the hop bine, the duty on 

 the new growth of hops has been done as high as £230,000. 

 Old hops have sold heavily, and prices have continued to give 

 way. 



In Ireland and Scotland wheat has sold slowly, and the 

 quotations have had a drooping tendency. In spring corn — 

 more especially in oats, which command high quotations — a 

 steady business has been transacted, but the stocks generally 

 are almost wholly exhausted. The shipments of produce to 

 England have been on a very moderate scale. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Owing to the long drought which prevailed throughout 

 England prior to the 14th of the month, increased supplies 

 of both beasts and sheep, chiefly in verj' middling condition, 

 have been on sale in the leading markets since we last 

 wrote. At one period so bare were the pastures of food 

 that it was found necessary to commence the consumption 

 of the new crop of hay, and not a few of our graziers were 

 compelled to dispose of stock which otherwise would have 

 been kept back for some months. However, since the date 

 above mentioned, grass has become plentiful, we have had 

 abundant and refreshing rains, and fewer forced sales have 

 taken place : hence, the cattle trade has assumed more firm- 

 ness, and prices have had an upward tendency. The con. 

 sumption of food in the metropolis and in the manufacturing 

 districts has certainly increased, and the cattle trade 

 generally now appears to be in a more healthy state than since 

 the commencement of the year. Still we are not anticipating 

 much higher prices than those now current ; both for the 

 grazier and breeder they present a fair margin of profit, and 

 we see no reason why any important fluctuation should take 

 place in them between this and the close of the year. No 

 doubt the supplies will be taken oflf somewhat freely as they 

 come to hand ; but we must bear one important feature in 

 mind, viz., the full average numbers of both beast and sheep 

 at this time in our various districts, and the absence of any 

 serious disease, even in counties where from time to time 



heavy losses have been frequently sustained. It is possible 

 that some parties may feel disinclined to endorse our ob- 

 servations in reference to the supplies of stock in the 

 country ; but it would be folly for us to contend that any- 

 thin;; approaching scarcity e.xists : besides— though we be- 

 lieve that the importations will be only moderate when 

 compared with some former seasons, we must not forget that 

 we shall have foreign supplies continually dropping in, and 

 which, as a matter of course, will exercise some influence 

 upon the quotations. 



The Norfolk season for stock has now just concluded. 

 Throughout, it has not produced so large or so valuable a 

 number of stock as we have sometimes witnessed ; still it 

 has been decidedly good ; but it may be well doubted 

 whether the season has been a profitable one to the grazier, 

 owing to the unusually high prices paid for store animals 

 during the greater portion of 1857. The supplies of beasts 

 as yet received from Lincolnshire exhibit a great improve- 

 ment over last season. For the most part they exhibit 

 points highly valuable to the butcher, and, as such, they 

 will, we think, prove a source of profit to the graziers. It 

 is a remarkable fact that, during the last twenty years, the 

 short-horned breed of cattle has increased in number, al- 

 most throughout the United Kingdom, more than any other 

 breed — a proof that it is highly appreciated both by the 

 graziers and butchers. 



In the early part of the month — say during the first 

 fortnight —the trade generally in the Metropolitan Market 

 was in a most inactive state, at drooping prices ; lambs 

 especially were extremely depressed. Since then, how- 

 ever, the demand has improved, and the quotations have 

 been ou the advance. The total supplies of stock, both 

 home and foreign, brought forward have been as follows : — 



Beasts 20,468 head. 



Cows 547 „ 



Sheep and lambs 154,932 „ 



Calves 4,26-2 „ 



Pigs 3,290 „ 



Comparison of Supplies. 



Sheep and 



July. Beasts. Cows. Lambs. Calves. Pigs 



1857 19,558 530 142,280 3,830 2,395 



1856 18,589 500 135,650 3,407 3,225 



1855 16,702 535 149,470 2,757 4,000 



From the above comparison it will be seen that more 

 beasts and sheep were exhibited last month than at the cor- 

 responding period in the three previous years. 



The arrivals of beasts from Norfolk, Sufl:olk, Essex, and 

 Cambridgeshire, last month, were 6,000 Scots and short- 

 horns ; from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Northampton- 

 shire, 7,600 shorthorns ; from other parts of England, 

 1,020 of various breeds; from Scotland, 218 Scots; and 

 from Ireland, 230 oxen. 



Some heavy importations of foreign stock have taken place, 

 owing chiefly to the want of cattle food in the north of 

 Europe. The beasts, as well as the sheep and calves, have 

 reached us in very poor condition, and, consequently, the 

 quotations have ruled very low. Annexed are the oflicial 

 arrivals into London : — 



Beasts 5,1 38 head. 



Sheep 17,382 „ 



Lambs 3,131 „ 



Calves 3,461 ,, 



Pigs 2,080 „ 



Total c 31,192 



