274 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 FEBRUARY. 



The numerous disnges in the weather, and the partial con- 

 tinuance of a somewhat severe frost, especially in the north of 

 England, have more or less interfered with the progress of 

 out-door farm labours ; nevertheless our accounts mostly state 

 that they are seasonably forward, and that the sowing of Lent 

 corn has commenced in the southern counties. The land, 

 however, has not worked well, and we regret to state that the 

 winter wheats are looking far from promising. We find that 

 in several parts of Euglaud vegetables, almost generally, have 

 Buffered severely from the frequent atmospheric changes ; in- 

 deed, in some districts the supply is unusually small even for 

 the time of year. Potatoes, too, have shown increased signs 

 of decay, and the result is that prices have further advanced. 

 Some parties contend that the supplies of that esculent on 

 hand are not equal to a mouth's consumption. This state- 

 ment, however, we are much inclined to doubt ; nevertheless 

 we admit that it would be unwise to calculate upon larger 

 quantities of an improved quality than those at hand since we 

 last wrote, more especially as the importations from the Con- 

 tinent have fallen off considerably. The deficiency ia the 

 stock of sound potatoes has led many persons to assume 

 that we shall shortly have considerable activity in the wheat 

 trade, and with it higher prices. That there is room for an 

 improvement in them may be freely admitted; but whilst 

 buyers continue to operate for immediate wants only, whilst 

 there is a total absence of speculation, and whilst the granaried 

 8to!-ks of foreign continue large, we can, we think, hardly look 

 forward to any excitement in the trade ; nevertheless it is just 

 possible that the quotations will gradually harden, say to the 

 extent of 33. or 4s. per quarter; but if actual supply is to 

 govern value, the chances are more in favour of steadiness in 

 the demand than extensive fluctuations ia value. Not that 

 we apprehend any great increase in the importations of either 

 wheat or flour during the present compared with the past year; 

 but it is, we think, fully apparent that our farmers still hold 

 a large quantity of wheat, both in stock and barn, when com- 

 pared with the general run of years. On this ground, there- 

 iore, we assume that there is no reason to look forward to any 

 great activity in trade. The demand for all descriptions of 

 Bpriug corn has continued to rule steady, at very full prices. 

 Fine barley, from its scarcity, and from an increased inquiry 

 for sowing purposes, has sold at very high rates, 483. and even 

 533. per quarter having been realised for it. The limited na- 

 ture of the importations of spring corn has led to some heavy 

 transactions ex granary ; hence the stocks, both in London 

 and at the outports, have been considerably reduced. 



The fat stock markets have beentolerably well, but not to 

 say heavily, supplied. Trade generally has ruled firm, and 

 the quotauons have continued high. The dead markets have 

 exhibited large quantities of meat, and which, as a matter of 

 course, have come into competition with live stock. The 

 enormous consumption going on, however, has prevented any 

 fall in the quotations of either beef or mutton. 



During nearly the whole of the month, the wool trade has 

 been in a very unsatisfactory state. English qualities have 

 receded in value, and other kiuiis have met a dull inquiry, at 

 barely stationary prices, although the importations have not 

 been to say extensive, and although only about 40,000 bales 

 will be offered at the present series of colonial wool sales. 

 The advance in the value of money has, no doubt, had some 

 influence upon tiie demand; yet, when we consider that the 

 supply of wool in the hands of the manufacturers is very 

 limited, and that our export trade in goods is active, we are of 

 opinion that prices are more likely to advance than recede. 



There has been an improved demand for both hay and straw> 

 and, in some instances, prices have had an upward tendency. 

 The supplies brought forward have not'increased. 



The stock of root crops ia still large, and the sales for both 

 linseed and rapecakes has been in a very inactive state, not- 



withstanding that the arrivals from the continent have con- 

 tinued on a very moderate scale. 



Wheat, Indian coin, and oats have been in improved request 

 in most of the Irish markets, and prices have ruled firm. 

 Other produce, however, has moved off slowly, at about previ- 

 ous currencies. The shipments to England have continued on 

 a limited scale; whilst the stocks of produce in the hands of 

 the growers are represented as very moderate. 



The Scotch markets have, for the most part, been fairly 

 supplied with wheat, barley, and oats, yet the demand for 

 those articles has continued steady, at full quotations. Some 

 extensive shipments of barley atd oatf, in good saleable con- 

 dition, have been made to the South — a proof, in our opinion, 

 that the yield last year was far more extensive than was at 

 one time anticipated. The stocks on hand are, we understand, 

 still in excess of the corresponding period in 1859. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Notwithstanding that full average supplies of fat stock 

 have been on offer in the leading cattle markets, the trade 

 generally has contiiiued in a healthy state, and prices have 

 been well supported. With very few exceptions, the beasts 

 received in tlie Metropolitan Market, from Norfolk, have been 

 in good saleable condition ; hence, the supply of meat, as to 

 quantity, has rather increased. The receipts from Scotland — 

 especially the crosses —have proved first-rate stock ; but those 

 from Ireland have continued limited. We learn, also, that 

 the Irish beasts have not turned out so well for general con- 

 sumption as in many former seasons. Owing, chiefly to the 

 great activity in trade and commerce, consequently to the 

 large consumption going on, the beef trade has ruled firm, at 

 very full prices. The arrivals of sheep have been tolerably 

 extensive; but a scarcity of really prime breeds has been 

 complained of. On the whole, the mutton trade has ruled 

 active, at further enhanced quotations, 5s. 10.1. and even 63. 

 per 8 lbs. having been paid for some very superior Downs. 

 Lambs have sold slowly, at prices varying from 5s. 6d. to 6s. 

 lOd. per 8 lbs. Calves and pigs have commanded more atten- 

 tion, at extreme rates. 



In consequence of the saturated condition of the soil, the 

 sheep have suffered considerably from the foot disease. Beasts, 

 however, have not shewn any serious signs of lameness. The 

 annexed return shows the total numbers of stock exhibited 

 and disposed of in the Metropolitan Market : — 



HEAD. 



Beasts 19,750 



Cows 322 



Sheep .. ., ,, ., ,. 87,536 



Calves... 974 



Pigs 2,094 



Comparison of Supplies. 



Feb. Beasts. Cows. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. 



1859 17,694 499 7.9,691 1,034 2,557 



1858 18,276 466 69,070 1,091 1,559 



1857 17.629 457 74,430 1.172 1,975 



1856 19.642 495 99,950 673 2,614 



1855. ...o. 17,436 385 91,180 596 2,705 



The arrivals of beasts from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and 

 Cambridgeshire have amounted to 10,920 Scots, shorthorns, 

 and crosses ; from oth« parts of England, 3,500 of various 

 breeds; from Scotland, 1,700 Scots and crosses; and from 

 Ireland, 307 oxen and heifers. 



Advices from Holland state that both beasts and sheep rule 

 high in price ; and rather an important rise has taken place in 

 the quotations in Spain. The imports into London in the past 

 month have been as under : — 



