THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



351 



We shall, however, require ccnaiderable moisture before we 

 can BOW our wheats on a good many of our soila. The laud 

 plounhs lip very dry aud dusty on the lifthtsoil, and hard and 

 steely on the strong teuacioiia lauds ; but with rain after this 

 dry weather, they will pulverize beautifully, aud present a very 

 fine seed-bed. We have heard of some of our fen farmers iu- 

 tendiug to commence sowing wheat immediately upon such 

 soils as retain 8uffi:ieut moisture to vegetate the seed. We 

 think October is qyite early enough to commence sowiug, 

 and should prefer to wait until that time; and even then, with 

 a mild autumn, there is some danger of the plant gettnig 

 •' winter-proud," aud suffering severely from the nipping 

 winds and frosts of the early spring months. We recommend, 

 however, ausarly seeding on fsn soils, sufficiently so to allow the 

 plant to get strong and well rooted before the keeu frosts of 

 winter set in. We have now fully tested the produce of the 

 harvest just concluded. We find the yield and quality very 

 various. We still think the wheat crop cannot exceed, and 

 doubt much if it will equal, an average. On the dry, warm 

 lauds, the grain is email and ihin, and yields badly ; but on 

 some of the cooler soih the sample is better, aud the produce 

 greater. The prices of wheat are now very low, and unleas 

 they soon improve farming will not be a very profitable enter- 

 prise in this locality. We scarcely thiuk prices can be conti- 

 nued as low as they are just now throughout the season, but 

 rather look for an improved demand and a better trade shortly. 

 The price of rnent continues good, but the trade for store stock 

 is not brisk. Pastures have improved considerably, and now 

 look verdant as spring. Potatoes are not largely diseased at 

 present, aud on good hods are a heavy crop. Mangolds 

 are good, and will produce a great weight per acre. Coleseeds 

 are improving, but are not at all good generally. — Sept. 20, 



SUFFOLK AND ESSEX. 

 Stowmarket, Sept. 23. — In estimating the result of 

 the harvest, and comparing it with the average of years, it 



must be remembered that we do so after a year of extra- 

 ordinary abundance (lfi57). Wheat was planted in favour- 

 able weather over an average breadth of land ; the season 

 throughout was propitious, the time of blooming calm ; 

 but the heat in the early stage of the development and 

 ripening of the grain was somewhat excessive. The abund- 

 ance of straw and the character of tlie season led to an ex- 

 pectation of a large crop ; the cars, however, were " set" 

 with fewer rows than usual, so that, although these were 

 well filled, the sheaves at harvest were fouud to be light. 

 The yield is a good average. The whole was well harvested. 

 The sample, though not so handsome as last year, is good. 

 The condition generally is fine, the weight from fiO to G41bs. 

 per bushel. The stock of old wheat in farmers' hands is 

 large. Barley occupied a full breadth of land, and is quite 

 an average crop; the season throughout was soniewliat too 

 dry, so that at one time it was expected the grain would be 

 liard aud unkind. A nice rain, followed by dry weather, 

 coming very opportunely, greatly improved its qualities for 

 malting by giwng it mellowness. Nearly half the crop was 

 thus saved ; the remaining half, however, part cut and pnrfc 

 standing, was exposed to some days' rain and dull weather, 

 and is consequently rather disco'.oured, with occasional 

 sprouted corns. Very fine samples are rare ; about two- 

 thirds may be regarded as of malting quality, very useful, 

 though not very haudsome ; and the remainder coarse, only 

 available for distilling and feeding. A fair supply has 

 already come to market. Thi; condition appears generally 

 good, and the weight is from 48 to 541bs. per bushel. Oats 

 are little grown in these counties ; the crop is badly reported 

 of. Beans may be considered only a moderate crop ; the 

 winter kinds are quite an average; the spring decidedly 

 deficient, although somewhat better than was at one time 

 expected. Peas are almost a failure. Potatoes not exten- 

 sively grown. The produce good and healthy. Mangold 

 wurtzel are fine. Turnips are much improved by the late 

 rains. Hay moderately good. —Thomas Prentice & Co. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, EAIRS, &c. 



ABERYSTWITH fair.— The attendance of farmers and 

 dealers was limited. The supply of horses and cattle was 

 smaller than ou former occasions, and few exchanged hands. 

 Good cows and calves were in demand, and those that were 

 gold realized fair prices, also a few draught horses were dis- 

 posed of at high rates. 



ABINGDON FAIR. — Lirge numbers of horses, cows, and 

 sheep ; trade exceedingly depressed, the great majority of 

 stock returning home unsold. A few hundreds of sheep and 

 lambs changed bauds late in the day, at about 3s. to 53. less 

 money than at this fair last year — thus verifying the old 

 adage, " Down corn, down horn." 



AYLESBURY FIRST MICHAELMAS FAIR, (Satur- 

 day last.) — At this fair there was a very large supply of horses 

 of all descriptions, and the trade was brisk in all kinds, espe- 

 cailly for first-rate animals, nag-horses making from £30 to 

 £60, and several fetched as high as £80 each. Good cart- 

 horses were also greatly in request, and high prices were ob- 

 tained for first-class ones, as much as £50 to £36 being given 

 for several, but the average price was from £26 to £40. In- 

 ferior hcrses also fetched better prices than have lately been 

 obtained. In cow stock of all kinds trade was very active, and 

 though the supply was large, great numbers were cleared off 

 early, prices averaging for milch cows £12 to £21, barren 

 cows £3 to £14, stirks £t to £8 each. There were several fine 

 herds of young Devon store bullocks, but they were too young 

 for the requirements of the Vale graziera, consequently no 

 tra Je was done in that kind of stock. For calves the trade 



was very brisk, and higher prices were freely given, weanerS 

 making 283. to 483., suckers 26s. to SSs. each. Very large supply 

 of sheep on offer, but trade was extremely dull, an-i though 

 lower prices were asked, few changed hands during the day, 

 averaging for store ewes 233. to 36s , store wethers 29j. to 

 393., store lambs ISs. to 26s. per head. A good supply of 

 pigs, and trade rather active. Slaughtered meat in good sup- 

 ply, but th3 trade was very dull, at the followiug rate* : Beef, 

 6d. to7id.; Veal, 6d. to7d.; Mutton, 6d. to 7d. ; Pork, 6d. 

 to 7d. per lb. 



BALLOCH FAIR. — There was a very large show of stock, 

 especially of draught horses, but the quality was ge lerally 

 inferior to that of latt year. Animals of superior quality met 

 ready purchasers at fair rates, but for other sorts the market 

 was a dull one. The average rate obtained for good draught 

 animals was from £40 to £45. As compared with Falkirk 

 Tryst this market has been rather a dull one, aud sellers have 

 been obliged to give way a little. 



BARNSTAPLE FAIR.— There were from 1,700 to 1,800 

 bullocks, but the sale was dull, at declining prices. Fat cat tie 

 lOs. to lOs. 6d. per score, cows and calves from £10 to £16, 

 barreners £8 to £12, steers £9 to £14. The sheep market 

 was crowded, about one-third more sheep being penned than 

 in any former year. Prices: Fat wethers 6d. to 6^1., ewes 

 5Jd. to 6d. per lb., lambs 18s. to 24». Store sheep sold slug- 

 gishly. There was one feature presented, both in the sheep 

 and cattle market, worthy of a remark, namely, the appearance 

 of a large number cf the Exmoor mountain sheep, and Eeveral 



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