THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



185 



will bear a vast amount of cold, after it has germinated and 

 seat forth its blade ; but whether tbe intense and deeply- 

 searching froat of December will not be injurious in those 

 instances where the grain had juat sprouted iu the earth, is a 

 question which time atone must determine. Thrashing has 

 not been prosecuted with much eaergy ; there have not been 

 many inducements. A range o^ low prices has lain dormant 

 some time, and the weather, although oftiimes frosty, has not 

 been of that character to efifect improvement in the condition 

 of the grain. 1 he imperative requirements of straw have been 

 the chief inducements to thrash. The destruction the frost 

 has made amongst the potato stores is distressingly exten- 

 sive. Lirge quantities that were secured with sufficient care 

 to withstand tiie severity of ordinary frosts are spoiled ; and 

 many a poor labourer's stock is totally annihilated. The 

 severity of the weather presents a striking contrast to that of 

 the preceding wi-ters of 1858 and 1859, when the grass lands 

 were comparatively in a growing state, so much so an to infJuce 

 many, too iuany it rau't be admitted, lo depend almost 

 entirely on the cold winter grass as the piiucipal food for their 

 young stock. That, however, is not now the case, and hay, 

 with roots, or some other food of that nature, is imperative. 

 Stock is free from epidemic disordtra at present ; but what 

 effect the severe atmospheric changes may produce among 

 cattle unprovided with adequate warmth and shelter, which, 

 unfortunately, in this district comprises a considerable portion, 

 will he more clearly decided as the spring advances. Tnose 

 which are exposed to hard fare and the chilling effects of the 

 elements, already exhibit unmistakable signs of impoverished 

 ciudition. Dairy work is in a state of quietude at this season 

 of the year, affording larmers' wives and daughters an accept- 

 able respite from their labours, and enabling them to enjoy the 

 festivities of Christmas without interruption. — Jan. 19. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, 

 FAIRS, &c. 



BANBURY FAIR.-Nag horses ranged from £35 to, in 

 one instance, as hi^h as £130, and good cart horses from £40 

 to £yO. There were, of course, horses of an inferior descrip- 

 tion at lower prices, but the sums just quoted prove that for 

 really good horstBesh there was a more than commonly brisk 

 demand. The principal sales took place on Wednesday, 

 thoui;h a fair amount of business was transacted on the other 

 d^ys. The supply of beef and mutton was very good, and 

 prices were well maiutained, though the trade was not quite 

 so brisk as was expected. 



DUMFRIES PORK MARKET.— The number of car- 

 cases was 490 ; iu'd the market was favoured by a keen 

 frost, which mateiially assisted the sale, though an advance 

 was demanded and obtained of Id. to 2d. per stone on last 

 week's prices. Buyens were very numerous, and all the 

 carcasses were quickly bought up. Current rates for prime 

 porkc-rs 6s. to Gs. 8d. per stone, and in some instances even 

 6s. 9d. was reach'.'d ; secondary quality 63. 3d. to 6s. od., 

 heavy weiihts5s. 8d. and upwards. Corresponding market 

 last year, 1,120 carcasses ; top figure, 5s. 8d. to Ss. lid. 



KELSO FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— There was a large 

 supply of cattle, snd a small show of sheep. The quality of 

 CBt'le shown was inferior to what ?. e have had shown this 

 year, there being only one or two prime fat lots in the market. 

 The demand was good, and all were early cleared off at prices 

 from 7s Gd, to 83. per stone, being considerably better than 

 last market. The supply of sheep was small, which were sold 

 at prices from 1\A. to 8d. per lb. 



KNARESBRO' FAIR.— There was a good show of fat 

 stock, at from 7s. to 73. 9d. per stone. An average supply of 

 lean cattle, and prices had a downward tendency. No change 

 in the price of calving cows. 



LINCOLN FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— There was a 

 much larger show of both beasts and sheep than we have seen 

 for many weeks past, and the general quality was very supe- 

 rior. There was a large influx of buyers from Nottingham, 

 Derby, Leicester, and other midland towns, and they exhibiting 

 an anxiety to purchase, the trade was extremely brisk, every- 

 thing worth notice reahzing good prices. Well fatted young 

 oxen and heifers readily fetched 7s. 9d. to 8s. per stone. The 

 quotations for middling qualities were 79. 6d. ; inferior, 78. per 



stone. The mutton trade, owing to the extensive supply, was 

 scarcely so brisk, prices being — for ewes 6d. per lb., wethers 

 7d. to 7Jd., for size and quality. 



TEWKESBURY FAIR.— There was a moderate supply 

 of sheep, most of which — about 80 — were sold by auction at 

 fully 8d. per lb. There was a fair supply of cows of middlmg 

 quality, which fetched 6^-d. to 6|d. per lb. But very few 

 pigs, the only fat o::e on offer selling for lis, per score. 



WARWICK MONTHLY FAIR was unusually well at- 

 tended, considering the unusual state of the atmosphere, and 

 first quality stock, of every description, realised the highest 

 prices. The ruling rates were as follows : Beef 6|-d. to 7^d., 

 ewe mutton 6^d. to 7J., wether mutton 75d. to 8d. per lb. 



WELSHPOOL FAIR.— There was quite as good an at- 

 tendance of buye's as at aa ordinary lair. There was, also, a 

 tolerably good show of cattle, which sold well. The prices 

 were: Beef from 6.^d. to 7d., mutton from 7d. to 75d., bacon 

 pigs (full) 6d. Cart pigs sold well, and there were but few 

 horses. 



WINSLOW MONTHLY MARKET.— There was a 



visible falling off in the market, of sheep and cow stock ; 

 of pigs, however, there was a good supply. Fat mutton 

 realized 4s. 6d. to S3., wether mutton 4s. 8d. to 5s. 3d. per 

 stone, and store sheep from 30s to 42s. each. Bacon hogs 

 from 9s. to lOs. per score. The cow stock consisted of 

 about 30 head of down-calving cow.-i, heifers, and stirks, the 

 former fetching from £15 to £20 apiece, heifers £12 to £18, 

 stirks £9 to £18 per pair, fat cows £18 to £23. 



WORCESTER FAIR.— The attendance of buyers was 

 large, and the show of stock very good, particularly in fat 

 beef and mutton. All was sold. IBeef made 7d.; mutton 

 Tjd. to 8d. per lb., with a ready sale for all sons. For good 

 cows and calves there was much inquiry, and also for bar- 

 rens. Pigs were on the advance, both fat and store. The 

 former made lOs. to 10s. 6d. per score. In horses but little 

 doing. 



YORKFORTNIGHT MARKET.— Calvingand dairy 

 cows were in about equal supply and demand, at late prices. 

 All kinds of grazing beasts were plentiful, at ratei in lavour 

 of buyers. A good supply of fat beasts sold at Gs. 9d. to 

 Zs. 3d, and 7s. 9d. per stone. Mutton sheep 6|d., 7d., Z^d., 

 and 8d. per lb. Grazing sheep were numerous : hoggs 423. 

 per head. 



IRISH FAIRS. — Ballinasloe : The supply exhibited 

 was much larger than was expected, but there was also a 

 good attendance of buyers. Cattle iu prime condition were 

 bought up early, and the;e was an excellent demand for first- 

 class animals. The supply of sheep was not large, and the 

 prices asked were beyond the views of buyers. There was a 

 good supply of agricultural horses, some of which changed 

 hands at fair prices. The supply of pigs was not large, and 

 tbe demand good at very hiijh figures. — Gkanard : There 

 was a large supply of pig?, which sold quickly at SOs. to 52s. 

 per cwt. for bacon qualities ; stores 453. to 50s. Young cattle 

 were neither plentiful nor good. — Kells : Good beef sold 

 quickly at 6O3. per cwt.,but inferior sorts were in bad demand. 

 Nice strippers sold well. The sheep fair was small, and wedder 

 mutton brought 6Jd. to 7d.per lb. There was a large supply 

 of pigs ; bacon sorts brought 50s. to 6O3. ; stores 453. to 50s. 

 each. The horse fairwasof no particular importance. — Finea: 

 Tbe supply of horses was very abundant. Prices ranged from 

 £8 lOs. to £25. Bacon pigs 483. to 523. per cwt., slips and 

 stores 35s. to 6O3. each. Prices of all kinds of stock were better 

 than at Granard. — Dundalic : Beef rated from 458. to 553, 

 and 6O3. per cwt. Yearhug beasts £3 to £4 10a. Tbe supply 

 of springers end strippers was moderate, both iu numbers and 

 quality. Mutton brought 6^d. to 73d. per lb. There was a 

 large fair of swine, and the demand for finished pigs for the 

 English market was brisk in the extreme, at prices up to 553. 

 per 1201bs. 



CORK BUTTER EXCHANGE, (?aturday last.)— The 

 supplies in our market are still limited, amounting to 2,000 

 firkins for the week, compared with 3,200 firkins this week 

 twelve months. High aa the price is, it has a decided tendency 

 upwards, owing to the esger competition among buyers ; 

 thirds, fourths, and fifths have advanced 2a. each per cwt. 

 during the week. This day's prices are from 708. to I2I3, 

 There is but little butter held by butter merchants. 



