THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



91 



I'iic^s paid Lave very little erceeded the average run of years 

 H this period. The numbers of beasts brought forward have 

 been very large, and, for the moat part, of unusually good 

 quality ; but the most attractive features during the month 

 have beeu the Smithficld Club Cattle Show, and the great 

 market at Islington. The supply of beasts exhibited at the 

 former has proved one of the best on record, as far as the 

 interests of the producer, butcher, and consumer are con- 

 cerned; and that of the latter has turned out wonderfully 

 good — indeed, it may safely be pronounced the best, both as 

 regards number and quality, ever seen. Here we would re- 

 mark that for some months great complaints have reached us 

 from various sources to the effect that stock has been very 

 scarce ; but the result of the month's trade proves to our 

 minds that there has been a larger supply of really good and 

 useful beasts iu the whole of our leading counties, including 

 Ireland, than has been generally imagined. The fact that the 

 arrivals have increased to some extent appears to have had no 

 depression in the trade. Everywhere prices have been kept 

 up remarkably well, in a comparative sense, although, since 

 the great day was held, the trade has beeu in a nominal 

 state, arising chiefly from the enormous quantities of meat 

 derived from Scotland and various parts of England, and dis- 

 posed of in Newgate and Leadenhall. The ijrcssnt prospects 

 of the trade for all kinds of stock are still flattering : consump- 

 tion is very kr^e ; and the commerce of the United Kingdom 

 was never on so sound and satisfactory a basis as it now is. 

 Whilst this state of things continues, and whilst we remain 

 at peace with our neighbours, fat stock — even though the im- 

 portations may be on an extensive scale — must continue high 

 in price. 



The supply of natural food in most grazing districts is large 

 for the time of year, consequently there is now only a limited 

 outlay for cake. The close of what is termed the " northern " 

 season enables us to form a correct opinion of the capabilities 

 of Lincolnshire, &c., in furnishing supplies for London con- 

 sumption. As far as we can understand it — looking to the 

 average abundance of keep, and the general condition of the 

 shorthorns — the Lincolnshire graziers, unless, indeed, they 

 paid too high prices for store animals, have had a successful 

 season. Certain it is that the beasts have arrived in, for the 

 most part, prime condition ; and it is equally certain that 

 high quotations have been realized for good stock, whether 

 pure shorthorns or crosses. The commencement of the Nor- 

 folk season is regarded with some anxiety ; but we understand 

 that it is likely to produce more beasts of fine quality than in 

 1859, and further, that sheep are somewhat pleutiful. 



The total supplies of stock shown in the Metropolitan 

 Market havr been as follows : 



B£.;sts 24,484 head. 



Cows , 470 „ 



Sheep 78,980 „ 



Calves 1,171 „ 



Pigs 2,187 „ 



COMPAEISON OF SOPPLIES. 



Dec. Beasts. Cows. Sheep, Calves. Pigs. 



1858 20,523 490 74,274 1.412 2,450 



1857 19,830 375 69,1.32 1,209 1.915 



1856 23,995 475 73,200 1,526 2,380 



1855 22,412 590 94,030 1,376 3,184 



1854...... 20,298 120 88,880 1,573 2,746 



1853 23,314 484 88,480 1,143 2,403 



Beef has sold at from 3s. 2d. to 5s. 4d. ; mutton, 33. 4d. 

 to 5s. 4d. ; veal, 3s. Sd. to 4s. lOd. ; and pork, 3s. 6d. to 5s. 

 per 81bs. to sink the offal. 



Comparison of Prices. 



Dec, 1856. Dec, 1857. Dec, 1858. 



8. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. b. d. 



Beef, from 3 10 to 50 30 to 50 30 to 54 



Mutton ..40 56 32 5032 54 



Veal .... 3 8 5 6 3 10 5 6 3 4 5 



Pork .... 38 54 36 543 2 42 



From the above it will be seen that poik has sold at from 

 4d. to lOd. per 81bs. more money than in December last year. 

 This advance, however, was long since anticipated by us, and we 

 may state that it is the result of the wholesale slaughter of 

 young pigs at the period when they were very numerous iu 

 this country, and when prices were much lower than they 

 now are. 



The arrivals of beasts from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and 

 Northamptonshire, have amounted to 11,000 shorthorns and 

 crosses; from other parts of England, 6,300 of various breeds; 

 from Scotland, 1,660 Scots and crosses ; and from Ireland, 

 1,440 oxen and heifers. 



The imports of foreign stock into London have been aa 

 under : 



Beasts 2,649 head. 



Sheep 13,754 „ 



Calves » 844 „ 



Pigs 183 „ 



Total 17,430 „ 



In the corresponding month in 1858 the importations 

 amounted to 19,099; in 1857, 6,608; in 1856, 11,079; in 

 1855, 19,515; in 1854, 18,349; iu 1853, 21,918; and in 

 1852, 11,870 head. The general quality of the beasts received 

 from the Continent of late has not improved, but the sheep 

 have come to hand of great weight, and in many instances 

 remarkably fat. 



The dead markets have been overstocked with meat. How- 

 ever, a very large business has been passing at the annexed 

 quotations : Beef has sold at from 2s. 8d. to 43. 6d. ; mut- 

 ton, 3s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. ; veal, 3s. 8d, to 4s. 6d. ; pork, 3s. 

 6d. to 5s. per 81b3. by the carcase. 



REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE 



DURING THE PAST MONTH. 



The month of December has closed with re- 

 markable changes in its temperature. It opened 

 with heavy rains, which gradually subsided, 

 and on the 14th commenced a most intense frost, 

 which, in less than a week, closed the inland 

 navigation; but, on the 21st this ceased, and 

 brought about an average temperature, which has 

 continued through the month. As very little snow 

 fell, and much of the young wheat was of very 

 feeble growth, we have yet to learn whether much 

 mjury has been sustained ; but such fluctuations 

 must be hurtful more or less, and should they 

 continue, spring will open with but a poor pros- 

 pect for the coming crop. The markets being 

 generally well supplied, and the long prevalence of 



wet and damp weather having seriously affected the 

 condition of the samples, there has been a dragging 

 trade, with no quotable change of value, through 

 the month; but the few dry parcels met with 

 have quite obtained former rates. Upon a review 

 of the year's averages, we find the lowest point 

 commenced on January 1st, when only 39s. lOd. 

 per qr. obtained ; and from this there was but 

 moderate advance, with slight fluctuations, up to 

 May 7th, when it reached 44s, lOd. On the fol- 

 lowing week it was 52s. 3d., and on the week after- 

 wards the highest average was reaUzed, viz. 

 54s. 4d. — making the extreme difference 14s. 6d, 

 per qr. This sudden advance was occasioned by 

 the outbreak of war in Italy between France and 



