THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



)35 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 NOVEMBER. 



Notwithstanding the scarcity of water experienced in 

 several parts of England during the last three months, no 

 serious complaints have come to hand to the effect that out- 

 door farm labours are to say backward. However, for some 

 time past, the land has worked otherwise than kindly, and 

 we may safely state that the present has been anything but 

 a fine season for wheat-sowing ; nevertheless, in most of 

 our principal counties, the young wheats are looking strong 

 and healthy. 



The turnip and beet crops, owing to the absence of 

 adequate supplies of moisture, are turning out somewhat 

 deficient, both in weight and quality. This deficiency will, 

 eventually, prove a serious matter to those of our graziers 

 in the midland and eastern districts, more especially as they 

 have much less hay in stack than in the ordinary run of 

 years. Food is, therefore, likely to rule high in price, and 

 enhanced quotations must lead to large purchases of hay in 

 distant quarters, to ensure a full average supply for both 

 beasts and sheep during the winter months. 



There has been rather a better feeling in the wheat trade 

 than in the previous month. Prices, however, have not 

 advanced ; and there has been no disposition shown on the 

 part of the millers to get into stock. As we are now arriving 

 at that period of the year during which transactions are 

 restricted, we can hardly anticipate any important move- 

 ment until after Christmas, Even then, we may not see 

 prices much above their present level, for reasons already 

 alluded to ; and every one must admit that we have still a 

 large quantity of last year's wheat on hand, and that only 

 moderate supplies of the new crop have passed into con- 

 sumption. Spring corn still maintains its price remarkably 

 well, although the importations from abroad have been on a 

 liberal scale, and although the demand for grain spirit for 

 shipment to the continent has now become trilling, when 

 compared with many previous years. The quantity of really 

 fine barley grown in this country, this season, is unusually 

 small, and the importations have been mostly inferior ; so 

 that good parcels will, no doubt, continue to realize 

 extreme — possibly, very high — quotations. 



The French Government have recently issued a decree 

 compelling the bakers in all the towns and cities of France, 

 of a certain degree of importance, to lay in a stock of flour 

 for three montha ! It really does appear a most arbitrary 

 act on the part of any Government to interfere with the 

 just privileges of the bakers; in other words, this measure 

 seems to i;s the working up of a little political capital at 

 other people's expense. The object sought to be attained 

 will assuredly fail ; but, no doubt, the effects of the decree 

 will be narrowly watched by those engaged in the corn 

 trade in this country. 



The potato crop, both in the United Kingdom and on the 

 continent, has turned out much larger and of finer quality 

 than was at one time auti;;ipated. The metropolitan and 

 other markets have been abundantly supplied with all kinds 

 of potatoes, the prices of which have ruled from 60s. to 953. 

 per ton. From abroad about 1,809 tons have arrived in Lon- 

 don, in fair cnndiiinn. The low price of bread has operated 



against the potato trade, which is likely to rule heavy for 

 some time, more especially as there is now more than usual 

 competition between the growers than in some former seasons, 

 arising from the increase in railway communication, and the 

 low charges of the various companies for carrying produce to 

 Loudon. 



The demand for both hay and straw in the metropolitan 

 markets has been far from active. Meadow hay has sold at 

 from £3 to £4 lOs., clover hay £3 15s. to £5 53., and straw 

 £1 58. to £1 lOs. per load. 



The public sales of colonial wool have progressed with re- 

 markable evenness. They opened at an advance in prices of 

 Id. to 2d. per lb., and that improvement has since been main- 

 tained, although the purchases for export to the continent 

 have been on a very moderate scale. English wool has slightly 

 advanced in price, and the stocks in the hands of the manu- 

 facturers are still limited. 



The quantities of hops, both new and old, now on hand, are 

 unusually large. Fine samples have mostly sold at full quo- 

 tations ; but inferior qualities have met a dull inquiry, and 

 prices have shown a drooping tendency. 



In Ireland and Scotland wheat, barley, and oats have been 

 in fair request, at full currencies. Oiher produce, however, 

 has met an inactive inquiry, on former terms. The shipments 

 of produce to England have not increased ; and the farmers, 

 almost generally, have shown no disposition to force the 

 markets. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Most of the cattle markets held during the month Just con- 

 cluded have been seasonably well supplied with beasts as to 

 number, but their general weight and condition have exhibited 

 a great deficiency, when compared with many previous corre- 

 sponding periods of the year. For prime stocks, therefore, 

 there has been a fair demand at full prices to a slight advance, 

 but inferior breeds have changed hands slowly, at low curren- 

 cies. As regards sheep, we may observe that little or no im- 

 provement has been observed in them, that their numbers 

 have continued moderate, and that sales have progressed slowly, 

 at further depressed rates. Other stock has commanded very 

 little attention. The comparative inactivity in the trade in 

 the Metropolitan Market must be chiefly attributed to the im- 

 mense quantities of slaughtered meat forwarded both from 

 Scotland and various parts of England to Newgate and Leaden- 

 hall, which marketi have been completely glutted with port. 

 The great abundance of the latter has taken not a few persons 

 with surprise ; but we must bear in mind that for many years 

 past pigs have been selling at very high rates, and that the 

 numbers, under the influence of remunerative quotations, have 

 rapidly increased. These remarks apply not only to England, 

 but likewise to Ireland and Scotland. The great increase in 

 the supplies, and the high value of the inferior kinds of food, 

 have led to increased slaughtering ; but whether such a course 

 is a prudent one time alone will determine. Our impression 

 is that we shall have much firmer markets for both beasts and 

 sheep next year, and that prices will rule higher thau they 

 now are. It must, however, he iir.dcrstood that these remarks 



O 



