THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



183 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



tJENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 JANUARY. 



In the month just concluded large quantitica of rain have 

 fallen in iienrly all parts of England, aud the excess in the 

 supply of moisture has, to some extent, interfered with out- 

 door labours. With the exception, however, of the pastures 

 benig heavy and partially flooded, there is nothing seriously 

 to complain of. Notwithstanding the large consumption go- 

 ing on, the moJerate nature of our importations from abroad, 

 and the comparative deficiency in the produce of last year's 

 crop, the wheat trade has continued in a state of great inac- 

 tivity, prices have ruled very lose, and millers, generally, have 

 shown no disposition to purchase beyond actual wants. Whilst 

 freely admitting that the yitll of the new wheat is deficient, 

 that most of the samples are somewhat inferior in a compara- 

 tive sense, and that the potato crop is not free from disease, 

 we cannot lose sight of the all-important fact that there is no 

 want of an adequate supply of food in the country. Our 

 farmers still hold some quantity of wheat produced m 1858, 

 and we have what may be considered full average supplies of 

 foreign produce in warehouse. The annexed figures show the 

 stocks iu London at the commencement of the month, when 

 compared with the corresponding period in 1859 : 



STOCKS OF FOREIGN PRODUCE IN LONDON. 



1860. 1859. 



Wheat qis. 308,162 ... 230,000 



Barley „ 19,726 ... 60,000 



Oats „ 238,507 ... 320,000 



Rye „ 1,199 ... 11,000 



Maize , 5,508 ... 23,000 



Beans „ 4,152 ... 16,000 



Peas „ 2,732 ... 7,400 



Flour sacks 23,394 ... 12,000 



Do brig. 19,821 ... 21,C00 



Thus it will be seen that the supplies on hand are seasonably 

 large ; and we may observe that most of the wheat is in fair 

 condition, especially that lately received from the south of 

 Russia. As regards the probable future range in the value of 

 wheat, we may observe that present quotations are safe ; but 

 against any important rise in the quotations we must place a 

 higher range in the value of discount accommodation, and the 

 possibility of some important change in the laws in France 

 regulating the import and export duties on produce. The 

 period for any change may be delayed; but we must bear in 

 mind that the Emperor has declared himself iu favour of free- 

 trade principles, and that, in the event of the supply of grain 

 on hand in France being more than equal lo the necessities of 

 the country, the change here referred to may be carried out 

 at a time when very few persons in this country will be pre- 

 pared for it. Dear money, then, may, aud no doubt will, tend 

 to check speculation, the present low rates notwithstanding ; | 

 besides, any upward movement of importance in the value of 

 wheat here w^ould be speedily followed by increased shipments 

 from the United States. 



On the whole, the barley trade has continued in a healthy 

 btate ; and, with the exception of inferior malting parcels j 

 lioviiig chauged hands at a slight reduction, prices have been 

 well supported. A great scarcity of really fine barley is &till ! 

 complained of ; but the deficiency has, in some measure, been j 

 made good by steady — perhaps we may say large — arrivals 

 of useful qualities from Scotland, Other kinds of spring corn 

 have ruled tolerably firm, and no change has taken place in 

 the value of flour. 



From most of the leading grazing districts, rather favoura- 

 ble advices have tiome to hand respecting the health of the 

 stock. No serious losses from disease have been complained 

 of; but we may observe, that rather large numbers of sheep 

 have become lame from, possibly, the effects of the prevailing 

 damp weather. 



The wool trade has continued in a healthy state, arising 

 from the great activity in the manufacturing districts. The 



public sales held at Liverpool have gone off steadily, and the 

 next auc;ions of foreign and colonial, to be held iu Londfu 

 next month, are looked forward to with considerable interctt, 

 especiilly as our manufacturers now hold a much smaller quan- 

 tity of wool than has been ever known at this period of the 

 year. 



New hops still continue to creep up in price, owing to the con- 

 tinuance of speculative operations. We have every reason to 

 believe, however, that the consumption of beer in the metro- 

 polis aud elsewhere has not increased ; hence, the bulk of labt 

 year's enormous crop is still on hand. Any attempt, there- 

 fore, to force sales must result in a considerable decline in 

 value. 



Full average supplies of both hay and straw have been ou 

 offer. The trade, eeuerally, has continued steady, as follows : — 

 Meadow hay, £2l28. to £4 4s.; clover do., £3 lOs. to £5 

 5s.; straw, £1 5a. to £1 10s. per load. 



Letters from Ireland aud Scotland state that no changes of 

 importance have taken place in the value of any kind of pro- 

 duce, that dealers have continued to operate cautiously, aud 

 that the stocks of produce on hand are seasonably good. Frtm 

 Ireland, only limited shipments have been made to England ; 

 but from Scotland, they have been somewhat extensive. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



For the time of year full average supplies of beasts, in ex- 

 cellent condition, have been on oifer in the various markets of 

 consumption held throughout the country. For most breeds 

 there has been a steady, though not to say very active, demand, 

 at mostly full quotations. The Norfolk season has commenced 

 under most favourable auspices, as respects the general weight, 

 quality, and condition of the stock. As yet very few even 

 middling beasts have arrived in London from that county, and 

 most of our advices agree in stating that the number ou the 

 land and in process of stall-feeding is somewhat iu excess of 

 the corresponding period in 1859. This is an important fact, 

 for consumers ; still it is in no way clear to us that we shall 

 have prices lower than at present, even though the dead 

 markets may continue to compete with those for live cattle. 

 The stock at hand from Scotland has turned out remarkably 

 fine ; since not only has it weighed well, but it has carried a 

 large quantity of internal fat. And here we may remark that 

 the ciosscs— which now form fully two-thirds of the supplies 

 from north the Tweed — are showing some wonderfully fine 

 points ; indeed, we may state that in many respects they are 

 superior to the original Scots, and that they now commaad 

 the highest price in the metropolitan market. This excel- 

 lence ia qua'iity fully justifies the remarks we have from time 

 to time olfertd on this important question, viz., the extension 

 of crosses between shorthorned bulls aud Scotch cows. So 

 long as the system is not carried too far — ia other words, so 

 long as the breeders confine their attention to two pure and 

 distinct breeds— great success will be the result of the new 

 system ; but it may eventually be carried on with inferior 

 stock, and break down at a period when increased profits a.^e 

 looked forward to. 



Only moderate supplies of sheep have been on offer, and the 

 demand for them has continued in a healthy state, at full quo- 

 tations, the best old Downs and half-breds having realized 5?. 

 6d. per 8!bs. The scarcity of these particular breeds has been 

 much complained of; even present high currencies have failerl 

 to increase the supplies, and the impression is that the actual 

 numbers in the country are comparatively small. 



Calves and pigs have sold at high quotations, and the 

 demand for them has continued in a healthy state. 



Judging from the present activity in tiadc and commerce, 

 the prospect of a large and profitable trade during the greater 

 portion of the year, and the enormous consumption of the 

 better kinds of food, we may safely assume that fat stock will 

 rule high in price for several months ; indeed, there is no one 



