90 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 



any directions : yet linings may be applied of dung, 

 fern, or straw, laid thick around the box and lights 

 or brick-pits, so as to exclude a frost of 20 degs., 

 which often comes and lasts many days. Fine 

 intervals of weather must admit fresh air daily, but 

 the sashes are closed every night, and covered with 

 straw-mats during freezing times, which is a most 

 effective protection. 



In open weather and free working ground the 

 green and white coss-lettuce, and the brown 

 Dutch and a sprinkling of short-topped rad- 

 dishes can be sown on a warm border, the soil to 

 be open and rich to promote quick growth, and 



covered with straw or fern during cold nights. 



Sow radishes twice. 



A little horn carrot seed, a drill of round spinach, 



some mustard and cress may be sown, but little 



good will result in general. 



Peas and broad beans should be sown at 



least 2i or 3 inches deep, in soil enriched in the 



autumn. 



Earth-up peas and beans if any be ready, ob- 



serving to select the driest weather. Transplant 

 cabbages from the seed-beds. 



In frosts protect the frames and cauliflowers 

 under glasses, celery by a couple of boards laid 

 ridgewise, or by straw on each side of the ridges ; 

 wheel out manure to be ready for plots, asparagus 



beds, &c., &c. 



Fruit Garden. 



In the fruit garden prune very little unless the 

 buds swell materially ; lay manure around the 

 roots of gooseberry, currants, and raspberry 

 bushes : it very much promotes the spring growth. 

 Do the same also to fruit trees and espaliers. 



If snow abounds, recollect to have it whisked or 

 shaken ofl' all the evergreens before the sun breaks 

 out : nothing tends so effectually to prevent scald- 

 ing and other accidents of the foliage. Do no- 

 thing in the way of planting flowers, but sow seeds 

 in pans, mark each, and place them in a frame. 

 Much time and labour are economised and 

 flowers better secured by this method of pro- 

 ceeding. 



rf 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS, 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT TOR 

 DECEMBER. 

 During the greater portion of this month, the weather haa 

 been very severe, and all out-'Soor labours have received a 

 check. Nevertheless, for the moat part, they are seaaonably 

 forward. Although only moderate quantities of wheat have 

 been thrashed out, and although the various markets have 

 been very moderately, in some instances scantily supplied, the 

 demand for that description of produce has been wholly 

 restricted to retail quantities, at prices equal to the previous 

 month. However, an impression is very generally entertained 

 that there will shortly be a reviv&l in the trade, and that, con- 

 sequently, higher rates will prevail. We have no heaitalion 

 in saying that the chances are more in favour of enhanced 

 than reduced quotations ; but, at the same time, seeing that 

 there is a great want of speculation, and that both millers and 

 bakers seem determined to purchase for immediate wants only, 

 our impression is that there is no room for what may be 

 termed excitement in the trade. Prices will, we imagine, weep 

 up quietly, under the influence of a steady consumptive enquiry, 

 notwithstanding that we may continue to receive full average 

 quantities from the westward. Our foreign advices are, for the 

 most part, of a character calculated to impart steadiness to the 

 trade ; but we must bear in mind that there is a large surplus 

 quantity of wheat abroad, and that a rise of 5s. per sack in 

 the price of flour would lead to extensive shipments ffom New 

 York, since we learn that stocks there are very large, and ihat 

 the American farmers hold heavy supplies of wheat. As re- 

 gards the future value of Spring corn, which for some time 

 past has ruled steady, we may intimate that there is very little 

 chance of any positive decline in it. Fine barley and good 

 sound oats will, no doubt, command extreme rates during the 

 next three months, owing to their scarcity. The great activity 

 in trade generally, both home and foreign, and the enormous 

 consumption going on, added to the small quantity of pro- 

 duce in warehouse, must, we think, have their accustomed 

 influence upon value. 



Although large supplies of potatoes have come fo Band in 

 fair condition, unfavourable accounts have continued to reach 

 us from various quarters in reference to the progress of disease. 

 Some correspondents affirm that fully one-half of the crop is 

 diseased. If this statement be correct, prices — which now 

 range from 70s. to 140s. per ton — must rule higher, and we 

 Bhall have enhanced quotations for wheat, since that grain will 

 become in active request. The importations of potatoes from 

 abroad have, as yet, been very moderate, and we believe that 



the foreigners have very few to spare for us. Last year, »t 

 this time, potatoes were selling at from 403. to lOOs. per ton. 

 and the supplies from all sources were very large. 



The stock markets have been abundantly supplied witH 

 beasts for Christmas consumption; but the supplies of sheep 

 have continued limited, as is. usually the case at this season. 

 The cattle trade has ruled healthy. Prices have been fairly 

 supported ; and the enormous receipts of beasts have changed 

 hands. In most of our leading grazing counties food is some- 

 what abundant, and comparatively low in price. Thia is an 

 import ant element in stock-feeding. . . 



Since the close of the public sales, the transactions in foreign 

 and colonial wool have been trifling ; nevertheless, prices have 

 ruled steady. For English wool there is an improved inquiry, 

 and very few sellers are now coming forward unless on higher 

 terms. The stocks in most quarters appear to be considerably 



reduced. . tv r 



Although there have been two successive large growths ot 

 hops, and although the supplies on hand are extensive for the 

 time of year, a large speculative business has been transacted 

 in all new qualities, at rather an important rise m the quota- 

 tions. The speculation carried oa has been a most extensive 

 one: it has not been restricted to a few houses, but has ex- 

 tended itself to numerous " strong" hands. The probability 

 is, therefore, that, by withdrawing samples from sa.e, further 

 efforts will be made to enhance the currencies. The produce 

 of the bine on the Continent appears to have turned out very 

 well, and much higher prices would, no doubt, induce some 

 heavy shipments from Germany. 



In Ireland the stocks of grain appear to become more 

 limited; indeed, importations of wheat from England have 

 been made into some of the Irish ports. The corn trade, 

 however, has been far from active ; and the same indifference 

 shown here to speculate has been observed m most of the 

 leading markets. The wheat trade in Scotland has oeen de- 

 void of animation, at late currencies ; but there has been an 

 active inquiry for good sound barley and oats, partly tor ship- 

 ment to the south. The produce of the crops generally appears 

 to have exceeded that of last year t: some extent. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Notwithstanding that a large amount of business has been 

 transacted in stock for Christmas consumption, the beef trafl i 

 hs" not ruled so active as was at one time anticipated, and tu^ 



