364 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



active. Fine barley and oats have commanded extreme rates, 

 and the transactions in Indian corn have somewhat increased. 

 Very little grain has been forwarded either to England or 

 Scotland, and the importations from the westward have beeu 

 only moderate. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Notwithstanding that full average supplies of stock have 

 been on offer in the various markets, and that the imports 

 from abroad have continued. on a liberal scale for the time of 

 year, the trade has continued in a healthy state, and, on the 

 whole, prices have been well supported. Most of the beasts 

 have appeared in good saleable condition, and the general 

 weight and quality of the sheep have shown signs of improve- 

 ment. We may observe, too, that the foot disease has shown 

 less virulence in our leading grazing districts ; conse- 

 quently the losses have been comparatively trifling. The con- 

 sumption of meat is still very large — a proof that trade is in 

 a flourishing state ; prices rule high, and it may, we think, be 

 taken for granted that no decline of importance will take 

 place in them during the present year, even though we may 

 receive large additional supplies from the Continent. From 

 some quarters complaints of the scarcity of stock have reached 

 us ; nevertheless, we believe that there are now larger numbers 

 of beasts ia the stalls than have beeu known for many years 

 past at this period of the year. 



Letters from Holland state that a considerable improvement 

 has taken place in the health of the stock — that heavy ship- 

 ments will be made to England next month — and that prices 

 are still high. In Germany large numbers of sheep are ready 

 for the English market ; but one would almost imagine that 

 the low prices realized for them in London would entirely 

 check shipments. However, they will, no doubt, be made, 

 even though the owners receive very little over 15s. for each 

 head of stock forwarded to London, after deducting the ex- 

 penses of freight, commission, and other charges. The im- 

 ports into the metropolis have been as under : 



HEAD. 



Beasts 1,084 



Sheep 8,498 



Calves 636 



Pigs .. 241 



Total 10,459 



Same time in 1859 10,548 



« 1858 1,511 



1857 5,419 



„ 1856 1,842 



„ 1855 2,103 



„ 1854 8,409 



1853 10,884 



1852 6,747 



The total supplies of stock, derived from all sources, exhi- 

 bited, have been : 



HEAD. 



Beasts 18,160 



Cows .. .. 495 



Sheep and lambs 93,409 



Calves ■ .. .. 853 



Tigs 2,042 



Comparison of Supplies. 



Beasts. Cows. Sheep. Calves. Pige* 



1859 16,810 612 94,775 695 2,890 



1858 17,821 476 74,410 704 1,915 



1857 17,345 490 74,880 1,118 2,230 



1856 22.623 470 100,700 797 2,140 



1855 18,644 380 83,790 834 2,765 



1854 20,588 532 93,060 1,091 2,780 



About 11,600 Scots, crosses, and shorthorcs have come to 

 hand from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire; 

 2,200 various breeds from other parts of England ; 750 Scots 

 and crosses from Scotland ; and 738 oxen and heifers from 

 Ireland. The crosses have arrived in first-rate condition, espe- 

 cially those from Scotland, and which have been chiefly con- 

 signed to Mr, Dickson, of the Metropolitan Market. 



The general range in the value of each kind of stock has 

 ruled as under : 



s. d. s, d. 



Beef, from 3 4 to 4 10 



Mutton 3 8 5 10 



Lamb 5 8 6 8 



Veal 4 8 6 



Pork 3 6 4 10 



Comparison op Prices, 



March, 1856. March, 1857. 



s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 



Beef, from 2 10 to 4 10 ... 3 4 to 5 



Mutton 3 2 5 2 .... 4 2 6 



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



Pork 3 4 4 8 ..., 3 6 5 2 



March, 1858. March, 1859. 



s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 



Beef,from 2 10 to 4 G .... 3 6 to 5 2 



Mutton 3 5 2 .... 4 6 



Veal 4 5 2 .... 3 10 5 8 



Pork., 3 4 4 .... 3 4 4 4 



Notwithstanding that very large supplies of Scotch and 

 country-killed meat have been received up to Newgate and 

 Leadenhall Markets, a steady business has been passing 

 generally ; nevertheless, in some instanceg the quotations 

 have had a drooping tendency. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, 

 FAIRS, &c. 



ABERGAVENNY FAIR.— There was a very good at- 

 tendance of horned stock, both stores and fat. Stores were, 

 however, owing to the high and increasing price of hay, and 

 the scarcity of swedes, not much in demand, those sold being 

 at a considerable discount. Fat stock sold pretty freely at 

 prices varying from 6^i. to 6|d. per lb. There was a capital 

 attendance of draught horses, many of which changed hands 

 at good prices. The supply of nag horses was very limited. 



BARNSTAPLE GREAT MARKET.— The supply was 

 qnite equal to previous occasions, and the cattle in good con- 

 dition ; dealers were not numerous, but much business was 

 transacted. Beef about lis. per score, and mutton from 7d. 

 to 75d. per lb., nott couples 32s. to 408., and horn ditto from 

 36s. to 46s. 



COUPAR ANGUS HORSE MARKET.— The turn out 

 was large, and for first-class horses high prices were given. 

 Messrs. M'Gregor and Thomson, Perth, sold one fine-looking 

 animal at £60 and £2 back. They likewise sold a few others 

 at upwards of £50. From the backward state of labour at 

 this particular season, useful horses were ia much request, 

 while from the scarcity of keep other sorts were not much in- 

 quired after. There was a fair turn-out of cattle. Prime fat 

 was selling high, while winterings or grass beasts were not 

 much sought ; and even calving cows, though much needed 

 at this season, yet, from the scarcity of keep, were stiffer than 

 usual. 



GLASTONBURY MONTHLY MARKET was un- 

 usually large, particularly in young beasts and store pigs. 

 The market altogether was brisk. 



GLOUCESTER MONTHLY MARKET.— Business both 

 in Beef and Mutton ruled heavy, and trade was very dull, for- 

 mer prices not being obtainable, and several lots remained un- 

 sold. Good Beef realized 7d., inferior 6d. to e^d. per lb. ; 

 Mutton in the wool fully 8d., shorn Sheep 62d. to 7d. per lb.; 

 Pigs, 93. 6d. to 10s. 6d. per score. 



NEWPORT (Isle op Wight) FORTNIGHTLY 

 CATTLE MARKET.— Wether mutton 6d. per stone, beef 

 12s. 6d. per score, lamb about 6s. per stone. 



SHEPTON MALLET MONTHLY MARKET.— There 

 was more stock exhibited for sale than at any previous market. 

 Good cows and calves fetched from £14 to £18, two-year-old 

 heifers £8 to £10, sheen from 32s. to 45s., and yearlings from 

 £4 to £5. 



HELSTON FAIR.— There was a very small supply of 



