THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



353 



refused what they cousiJered btlow the market value of their 

 stock. Large Lumbers of sheep and lambs changed bauds, 

 and thousU a considerable portion remained unsold, tlie sale 

 was an average. For the best laralis there was a fair sale, 

 most of them being disposed of. For wetiiers tliere waa not 

 a very good sale, arising chiefly from a deficiency of sorts iu 

 the county; but altogether the prices may be aaid to be about 

 23, above those of last year. Ewes sold from 29s. to IGs, 

 lambs 2I3. to 28s , culls 16s. to 2O3. 



LINCOLN FAIR was very largely attended as compared 

 with former years. The beast fair was not to say largely, but 

 moderately supplied with stock of various kinds and qualities, 

 and ES buyers were somewhat scarce, a languid sale wi>3 ex- 

 perienced for all descriptions. The sheep fair was one of the 

 largest known for many years at this seabon of the year, 

 nearly 4,000 being penued, but still the trade was far irom 

 brisk, aud without auimation. The best kind of wothers and 

 gimmers realized good prices, but inferior sorts were difficult 

 of disposal even at lower rates. The horte fair, as is gene- 

 rally ttie ca'se at tbis season of the year, was very gooJ aa re- 

 gards quautiiy, but the general quality of the animals exhi- 

 bited was of a very inferior description, although some well- 

 breJ and useful auimals were offered iu the numerous Irish and 

 Welsh droves, which ou this occasion put in an appearance. 

 A good amount of business was, however, done among the 

 class of auimals worth buying, but old and inferior horses were 

 very difficult ol disposal. Good cart foah and fillies, of which 

 a very fair supply was ou offer, readily foi.nd buyers at prices 

 varyinsr from £12 to £16 each. 



LOUTH FAIR. — There was a large supply of sheep, for 

 the greater part of which there was a brisk demand, although 

 the trade on the whole was not so active as had been antici- 

 pated. The cattlo department was not crowded, so that a 

 ready sale was (ound for beasts of every description, but not 

 at a material advance iu price. 



MOFFAT FAIR.— The show of rams was much larger 

 than last year. Prices for Cheviots were down on the 

 general class lOs. (0 20s. below last year. Prices for the 

 best class of Cheviot rams may be quoted from £10 to £"il ; 

 superior animals, £4 10s. to £9 ; and secondary from £1 

 lOs. to £3 IO3. Tup lambs, best 23s. to 30s., ordinary 16s. 

 to 20s. Yorksliire rams £4 to £6. Biackfaced rams, best 

 £4 to £5 5s., secondary from SOs. 



MONIAIVK FAlil.— There has not been a better show 

 of stock seen for many years; it consisted of about 50 lots, 

 comprising nearly 4,000 head. Owing to the recent bad 

 weather, and buyers consequently being cautious, the de- 

 mand was slow; still the presence of a few Cumberland 

 dealers tended greatly to quicken sales. Prices for half-bred 

 lambs were from r2s. to 18s , Cheviot ewe lambs lOs. to ISs., 

 weJder ditto (seconds) from Us. to lOi., old draft ewes from 

 15s. to 20s., cross lambs from 123. to 14s. Upon the whole 

 it was a fair selling market, and very few lots remained un- 

 sold. 



MUIR OF OLD MARKET. — Wednesd.vy : The 

 stock of sheep was composed chiefly of shots, and there was 

 considerable reluctance on the part of buyers to make pur- 

 chases. The market may be said to have been a stiff one, 

 and many lots were not disposed of, the owners preferring 

 to hang on till next day, in the hope of realizing the prices 

 asked. ISome fine tups were shown by Messrs. Mundell, 

 Laidlaw, and Barrie, aud were advantageously disposed of. 

 Among the lots of sheep that changed owners were the fol- 

 lowing: — Mr. Scott, L'.chcarron, so'd the shots of shot ewes 

 at Us. 6d., and wedders at 19s. 6d. ; Mr. Arres, Delnies, 

 bought Cheviot ewes at 14s. 6d. ; Mr. Scott, Hawick, 

 bought two lots of cross lambs at !!s. 6d. . Mr. Maclennan, 

 Toinich, sold half-bred hogtrs at "278 , and cross wedders at 

 28s.; Mv. Gaulil, for Mr. Merry, of Belladrum, bought alot 

 of slack ewes at £18 per clad score ; Mr. Ross, Tore, sold a 

 lot of slack ewes at 193 ; Mr. Blake, Corrieraony, bought a 

 loc of biackfaced wedder lambs at 9s. Gd. ; Mr. Ross, Kinna- 

 haird, sold a lat of shot crock ewes at 12s. tid.; Mr. Scott, 

 Tullich, sold shot crock ewes at 10s.; Mr. Stewart Macrae, 

 Auchmore, soldalot of Cheviot hoggs at 7s. 6d.; Mr. Macken- 

 zie, Kinnetas, sold a lot of Cheviot ewes at 14s. 6d. ; Mr. Mit- 

 chell, Att;ul;ile, sold a lot of shot ewes at 13s. ; Mr. Camp- 

 bell, (ilenmadile, sold a lot of top wedder lambs at lis. 

 Thursday ; A full average in the quantity and quality of 

 the stock exhibited, and in advance of last year in both particu- 



lars. The number of horses was considered Iar;;er than at the 

 corresponding market lust year. The market was reckoned, 

 on the whole, a good one— in many respects better than 

 was anticipated. Ewes and wedders fresa off the hill sold 

 well, but the greater part of the stock was composed of small 

 lo'iS of shots, and "odds and ends," which, by some 

 good feeding, might be turned to account. A similar report 

 may be made of the cattle shown. The good lots, and some 

 fair crosses and llighkuidcrs, were sold, being in lively de- 

 mand, and fetched jjrices corresponding to, or rather above, 

 recent southern markets, allowance being made for travelling 

 expenses. The late iiuprovement in the turnip crop, and 

 the general rise in the prospect of the country, are assigned 

 as the cause of the improvement in the market. 



NOllTHAMPTON FAIR.— We hadavery large show 

 of store sheep, and more sellers than buyer.s, and many would 

 remain unsold. The trade was very slow. Barren ewes 

 were in very large supply ; old ones were lower, but fur 

 good two and three-shear ewes verygood prices were realized. 

 Tlie supply of store beast was an average, and were bought 

 at lower prices. Mutton and beef, the supply of which wasnot 

 large, ruled from 6d. to 7d. per lb. Lambs were rather 

 dearer; the piice of wool has had an effect on them; this 

 latter article has advanced again lately, and present prices 

 seem likely, for some time, to be supported. A very large 

 number of superior tups were sold and let by auction. 



PARTNEY FAIR.— Upwards of .^)0,000 i\\:e{> were penned 

 at an early hour. Prices had a drooping tendency, amJ before 

 the day closed were from 2s. to 33. per hciid 'o-.\er than at the 

 August faitp. Lambs made from 153. to oOa. D/apes from 

 44s. to 563. Mr. Vessy sold 200 ht £3 each. Shearlings 

 from oSs. to 45s. Mutton 7d. per lb. The tup snle.;, iiow an 

 important element in this fair, attracted a large company, and 

 although three or four auctioneers were officiatiug at the same 

 time, each had his friends and customers. Mr. Topham's 

 sheep, offered by Mr. Masou, were admitted by all who ex- 

 amined them to be by far superior to ah ethers. 1 his was 

 proved to be the case by the prices given for them, twenty- 

 eight sheep producing an average of £19 193. 3d. One, a re- 

 markable animal, was, after a spirited competition, bought by 

 Mr. Thomas Kirkh-am for £50, another by Mr. Swain, of 

 Wrangle, for £37, and one by Mr. Harwood Mackiuder for 

 £30. These sheep are known to have ilescecded from the 

 once well-known West Keal flock, aud well do they sustain 

 the reputation of their sires. Mr. Shelley's sheep, sold 

 by Mr. HoUis, averaged £12 23. The best sheep wai pur- 

 chased by Mr. Simons, of Wisbech, fur £41, T.vo by Mr. 

 Kemp for £21 and £20. Mr. Wilson's, of Stick'ord, sold 

 by Mr. HoUis, averaged £7 ISs. Cd. Selections from the ex- 

 cellent flock of Messrs. lies. May field, and Walesby were abo 

 offered aud realized good prices. In the beast fair there was 

 only a limited supply. Trade was dull, and (except for the 

 best beef) prices were lower. 



POOLEY FAIR. — There was a very large show of both 

 cattle and sheep, which caused buyers to hang back. A very 

 good trade, however, was done, at prices considerably lower 

 than last year. 



READING FAIR.— There was a pretty good supply, but 

 the trade ruled dull, at the following prices : Cart colts, £15 

 to £35; good horses fit for London work, £40 to £oO; the 

 inferior description of horses could scarcely be disposed of at 

 any figure. Store heifers, two-year-old, from £5 to £8 ; De- 

 von steer?, £10 to £13; milch cows, £14 to £22; in-calf 

 heifers, £10 to £16; barreners, £8 to £11; for two-year-old 

 bulls there was no demand ; yearling bulls, from £4 to £6. 

 fn the pig fair the trade was excessively dull ; pigs from two 

 to three months old fetched from 5s. to 83. 



TOWYN FAIR.— The supply of beasts was not so large as 

 was anticipated, and prices ruled rather low. There were a 

 good number of local drovers, as well as some from a distance. 

 Best three-year-old bullocks fetched from £11 to £12 ; two- 

 year-old steers realized from £8 to £9 ; milch cows reached 

 £12. The show of horses were meagre, the demand being only 

 nominal. Pigs were cheap. 



WIVELISCOMBE FAIR.— This fair was held on Satur- 

 day last, Sept. 25th, and was numerously attended by a;jricul- 

 tiirists iu the countiea of Somerset and Devon. Ttie atteno'- 

 a'.ce, however, was not so large as might have been expecte(f, 

 considering the growing importance of this fair, for the dis- 

 posal of store stock of all descriptions; and probably the 



