THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



263 



caterpillar has in aeveral places made its appearance, and com- 

 mitted its usual ravages. The turnip crop will be much in- 

 ferior to former years, but may improve much if the latter 

 part of tlie season Le favourable, and free from frost. Tiie 

 late-soivu common turnips did better, and promise to be a fair 

 crop. The hay crop was in general good, and secured in ex- 

 cellent condition. It has been a good grass year, and stock 



has had every chance of doing well. Beef has been scarcer, 

 and, as a natural consequence, the price has been high ; mut- 

 ton too maintains its price better than could have been ei- 

 pecteri. The fairs for store lambes arc now being held, and 

 the price of the youthful bleaters is not much short of last 

 year, very little indeed, taking into account tbat they are con- 

 sidered rather inferior in quality to last year. — Aug. 19. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c 



BANBURY MONTHLY FAIR. — The supply both of 

 beasts and sheep was very moderate ; fat beasts met with a 

 ready sale at from 6|d. to 7d. per lb. according to quality ; 

 good descriptions of mutton fetched from 6^A. to Td. Of 

 stores the supply was also small, the market being rather flat, 

 owing no doubt to the deficiency of pasture, consequent upon 

 the long-continued dry season. 



BEDALE FORTNIGHT FAIR. — We had an average 

 supply of stock. There was nothing new in the character of 

 the market, prices being the same as last fair, and business 

 rather slow. Beef, 63. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per stone ; mutton, 5d. 

 to e^d. per lb. 



CARMARTHENSHIRE CATTLE FAIRS have been 

 held at Narberth on the 10th ; at Lanstepheu on the 11th at 

 Carmarthen on the 12th, and at Lampeter on the 14th inst. 

 There was a large number of small store cattle for sale at each 

 of those places. There was a respectable attendance of 

 dealers, but owing to the want of rain in the English counties 

 where those beasts are usually sent to, they purchased very 

 sparingly and at reduced prices. Good three and four-year old 

 oxen were scarce, and sold readily at fair rates. Fat cows 

 were in fair supply and demand at from 4jd. to 6d. per lb. ac- 

 cording to quality, sinking the off-il. The few cows with 

 calves shown sold readily at high rates. A large number of 

 horses and colta were on offer at Narberth, Carmarthen, and 

 Lampeter, and many sold at lower prices. A large ntiraber of 

 pigs were penned, and many sold at lower prices than have 

 been known for years past. 



CHELTENHAM FAIR was scantily attended, and business 

 small. Show of beasts limited, but good prices asked and ob- 

 tained. A great number of sheep were penned, but many were 

 taken away unsold ; prices, from 30s. to £3. An extensive 

 display of horses, but majority only suitable for agricultural 

 purposes, and the rates demanded in many cases far beyond 

 their value. Hunters and carriage -horses scarce and brought 

 good prices. Show of pigs moderate, and fair prices realized. 



HORNCASTLE FAIR. — This great horse-mart was 

 brought to a close on Tuesday, and commanded a great sale 

 throughout, the mart being daily supplied with fresh arrivals 

 to meet the demand. Carriage horses continued to sell 

 quickly. For hunters there was much competition, and some 

 were sold and re-sold several times ; young horses suitable for 

 chargers and the artillery were bought up eagerly to complete 

 a foreign contract. As we have previously recorded prices, it 

 would be superfluous to recapitulate them ; suffice it to say, 

 that no abatement was made in the prices of horses to the end 

 of the fair. London dealers continued to buy the best selec- 

 tions, many of whom took away strings of horses varying in 

 value from £1,000 to £4,000. 



IRVINE FAIR. — There was an ordinary show of horses, 

 but not many of fine quality. Sales were dull, and at fully as 

 much reduction in price as at late fairs elsewhere. First-class 

 horses were in fair demand, at prices ranging from £40 to 

 £50. As hi^h as £45 was offered for one horse, but was re- 

 fused. Of the second class, prices rairge from £30 to £40. 

 This class, the most plentiful in the market, was rather dull 

 of sale ; and at the close, a number went away unsold. Of 

 riding-horses there was a limited supply ; and for those exhi- 

 bited, from £20 to £25 was demanded. 



KEYNSHAM FAIR. — There were upward.s of 2,000 

 sheep, and a great number of fat and store cattle, horses, and 

 pigs shown, all of which met with a ready sale, at good prices, 

 the sheep realizing 23. or 3s. a head more tban at Lansdowu 

 Fair. Amongst the cattle were some very superior oxen be- 

 longing to Messrs, Parker and Wood, for which purch.aaera 



were quite eager, six of them realizing £150. There were 

 also some excellent pure Shropshire Down lambs, belonging 

 to Mr. Benjamin Paget — in fact, the whole stock present at 

 the fair was very good. 



KNIGHTON FAIR.— The supply of cattle, although 

 small, was quite equal to the demand ; and, although lower 

 prices would have been taken, there were few purchasers. In 

 the sheep market there was an average show for this fair, fat 

 sheep fetching from 6d. to 6^d. per lb. Store ewes brought 

 about the same prices as at this fair last year. 



LANSUOWN FAIR.— Business generally was dull. Fat 

 cattle and sheep were scarce, and sold pretty well — the former 

 from 10a. to lis. per score, and the latter at Gjd. to 7d. per 

 lb. The supply of store cattle and sheep was large ; but the 

 general shortness of keep tended to check sales, and the great 

 bulk of the supply was driven home unsold. The price of 

 beasts was about the same as at last week's Bristol Market, 

 and of ewes 2s. per score below the rates of last year's fair. 

 There were about the usual number and variety of horses, in- 

 cluding some excellent cart-horses and colts ; but the trade 

 ruled dull. 



LOCKERBY LAMB FAIR.— There was a smaller 

 show of lambs than last year, the deficiency being principally 

 of Cheviots — particularly ewe lambs. Owing to the heavy 

 losses on many stock farms last spring, more of the class 

 were required for breeding purposes. The stock in general 

 was in excellent condition, and were early placed on the 

 ground. The numbers were estimated at from 40,000 to 

 to 50,000 head. There was a large attendance of buyers, 

 both from the South and the district around, also from Gal- 

 loway. From the backward state of the turhip crop, a slow 

 market and lower prices were anticipated a few weeks ago ; 

 but the late fine weather has greatly improved the turnip 

 crop, though still much below an average for this period of 

 the year. Business commenced pretty early, there being a 

 good demand for the best class of half-bred lamhs ; but 

 holders generally asking last year's prices, sales up to mid- 

 day were not very quick for half-breds, except for top lots. 

 After mid-day the market rather improved, and sales were 

 more readily effected than in the earlier part of the day, ex- 

 cept for secondary descriptions ; but it was anticipated that 

 even this class would be nearly cleared off. The best lots 

 of half-breds were 6d. to Is. below last year, though in some 

 cases last year's figure was obtained. For secondary half- 

 breds there was a greater fall, being from Is. 6d. to 2s. a- 

 head ; best, 20s. to 323. 3d., secondary 14s. to 18s. 6d. 

 Owing to the short supply. Cheviots were in great request, 

 and in some instances were bringing from 6d. to 9d. above 

 last year. In sonle instances tlie pi ice was. 3d. to 6d. below 

 last year, but for this class last year's price was in general 

 sustained. Top v/ether laml)s 10s. Gd.to 14s. 6d., mid-ewes 

 lis. to 14s. 9d. ; few second lambs are shown at the August 

 market. For cross lambs there was a good inquiry, and the 

 whole were early picked up at a decline of Is, on last year's 

 prices. The prices for tliis kind ranged from 1 4s. to 18s. 

 There was full}- a larger show of blackfaced wether lambs 

 than last year; but only one or two lets of mid-ewe iambs 

 were shown. Prices for blackfaced were up Cd. on last 

 year, and prices ranging from 8s. 6d. tolls. For top 

 wethers the market, on the whole, may be said to be quick 

 for Cheviots, crosses, and blackfaced, and dear and slow for 

 half-breds, with prices for all descriptions better than ex- 

 pected. 



MELROSE LAMB FAIR.— There is some difficulty at 

 Riming at the nnmbers on the ground, but they wcjre com- 



