iU 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



for want of supplies. Maay auctions of grazing parks let an- 

 miaily for the season; they have generally been knocked down 

 at fabulous prices per acre ; dire necessity causing the moun- 

 taiu flockmasters to take the field at any price, which has 

 proved quite "a windfall" to the lucky owners of grass lands. 



Our provincial papers display immeuee numbers of May and 

 June sales of farm stock, where parties have been superseded. 

 We hope a more genial atmoajihere will afford a prospect of 

 herbage, and give heart to intending purchasers, present ap- 

 pearances being far from cheering. — April 20. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c. 



BANBURY FAIR. — There was a good supply of beef from 

 4s. to 43. 8d. per Slbs., while mutton was dearer, the best 

 qualities fetching aa much as 5s. to Ss. 6d. per Slbs. without 

 the wool. 



BEDFORD ST. LEONARD'S FAIR, (Saturday last.)— 

 The show of stock was large, of sheep about the usual 

 average. Horses not in great number ; altogether trade not 

 so good as at Luton fair on the Monday previous. Prices asked 

 for store beasts and sheep too high for purchasers — hence 

 many were left unsold, the late spring making many graziers 

 indifferent as to purchasing. Cows and heifers less sought 

 after through the same cause. Horses of good size and use- 

 fulness found buyers at high figures. Best store beasts, He- 

 reford and shorthorns, from £11 to £13 each ; Scotch ditto 

 £9 to £10 each ; cows, best from £15 to £18 each, heifers at 

 from £12 to £14 each •, Sheep, best half-bred tegs at from 

 34s. to 363. each, ewe and lamb from 40a. to 463. ; wethers 

 (fat) made 5s. per stone, fat ewes 48. 4d., fat beasts from 

 4s. 4(1. to 43. 8d. ; best riding and driving horses 403. to 453. 

 each, others at from £20 to £30; ponies £9 to £16 each ; 

 cart horses from £25 up to £40 each. 



CHESTER FAIR.— There was a good show of horses : 

 many splendid animals were exhibited, but as business waii dull, 

 which may be accounted for in a great measure by fodder 

 being very dear, in consequence of its scarcity. The 

 cattle fair vias thinly attended, and business anything but 

 brisk. 



CLENT HOLY CROSS FAIR showed more animation 

 than usual ; there was a large attendance of buyers, and the 

 stock exhibited were good. Couples realized from 503. to 

 603. ; fat sheep, S^d. to 9d. ; fat cows from 6Jd. to 7d. ; 

 cows and calves, from £11 to £19; other stock and pigs sold 

 well. 



CLIFTON-ON-TEME FAIR.— There was a tolerably 

 good supply of fat beasts, which sold at about 6^d. per lb., 

 but only a few store cattle and sheep, which were not much 

 sought for, owing to the shortness of keep. Pigs but few, and 

 those sold at the same prices as of late. 



CROWLE FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— Beasts ap- 

 peared to be very little enquired for, and a limited amount of 

 business was transacted. Pigs were very dear. 



EVESHAM FAIR.— There was a good attendance, and 

 business was rather brisk. Stock generally of middling 

 quality, and no great supply. Cows realized on the average 

 about 15Z. •, store heifers from 11/. to 16Z. ; beef made 6Ad. 

 to 7d. Sheep fetched about 3/. ; mutton, 8d. to 8Jd. in the 

 wool, and 7d, to T^d. shorn. Pigs sold at about 10s. 6d. per 

 score. Horsea, moderate supply. 



GLOUCESTER MONTHLY MARKET.— The supply of 

 stock and beef was shorter than we have witnessed at this 

 season for many years. There were very few sheep, and those 

 were sold at extremely high rates. The market closed very 

 early, with a clearance at the following rates : Beef, from 6|d. 

 to 7d. ; mutton, from 8d. to Sid. per lb. 



HOWDEN FAIR. — First-rate horees were scarce, and 

 realizel advanced prices ; inferior plentiful, but a slow sale. 

 In fat cattle a good sale was effected at an advance ; lean could 

 not be disposed of, even at a reduction. 



KINGTON FAIR. — The supply was as abundant as on 

 any former occasion ; and, notwithstanding the scarcity of 

 keep, there were to be seen some very fiue cattle. There was 

 also a good attendance of dealers The demand for stock oi 

 an average quality was aho much better than was anticipated, 

 and a fair number changed owners at much better prices than 

 was expected. The supply of sheep was but small, and the 

 demand not over brisk. On the whole the fair was a very 

 good one. 



LAUNCESTON FAIR was scantily supplied with good 

 grazing beasts. The severity of the season was very apparent in 

 the condition of the greater portion of the cattle. The sale 

 for the best stock was tolerably good, but that out of condi- 

 tion qiiite neglected. There was a good show of fat beef, 

 which Bold at 603. to 65s. per cwt. Fat sheep were scarce at 

 8^3. per lb., but couples were a large supply ; being much 

 out of condition the sale was dull in the extreme. The wea- 

 ther being exceedingly cold, and vegetation so very backward, 

 with the winter fodder nearly (in some instances completely) 

 eaten up, the stockmaster is put to his wits' end to keep his 

 flocks and herds from starving. 



LOCKERBY FAIR.— There was a larger show of sheep 

 than last year : the stcck comprised 2,260 head. There was 

 a goodly number of intending buyers present, and there was a 

 fair demand for half-breds, but owing to the unfavourable 

 markets at House of Muir, they were generally offering 23. to 

 33. less than buyers inclined to accept, and the market was 

 slow for that description of stock. The great number of 

 deaths already among Cheviot ewes, and the prospect of an 

 increased mortality during the hill lambing season being cer- 

 tain to cause many blanks in breeding flocks, which will 

 require to be filled up by gimmers, there was a good demand 

 for that description of stock, which were realising in most 

 cases prices similar to those of last year, though in few in- 

 stances was the condition equal. Cheviot wedders were less 

 in request than gimmers. There was a considerable number 

 of cattle, comprising all kindo, and in many cases the prominent 

 bones of the animals showed that fodder was at a premium. 

 Mr. Jardine bought a bullock at £22. Mr. Irving, of White- 

 hill, sold a three-year-old pure bred Ayrshire bullock at £22. 

 There were few good Ayrshire cowa shown. Mr. Hetherington 

 bought several of the best from £12 downwards. 



LUTON FAIR, — There was a good demand for beasts at 

 advanced prices of from 5s. up to 20s. each. Fat beasts sold 

 readily. Every horse worth notice sold at high prices. Fat 

 wetlier sheep were disposed of readily; other descriptions were 

 not so much sought after. Fat pigs sold at the prices quoted 

 at Leighton Buzzard fair last week. 



NEWTON-STEWART MARKET. ~ Extremely high 

 prices were being asked, which, together with the scarcity of 

 fodder iu the district, made buyers very shy, and at two 

 o'clock there had been no sales effected. Of pigs there were 

 several carts on the stance, and prices ranged from lOs. to lis. 

 each, according to age and quality. 



SHIPSTON-ON-STOUR FAIR was numerously attended 

 by dealers, and there was a good show of useful horses, which 

 were offered at prices varying from 25 to 55 guineas ; there 

 was also a good supply of beef and mutton, which met with a 

 ready aale; beef, 7d. to 7id. ; mutton (shorn), 6id. to l^d. 

 A full fair of tegs and stores, with a dull trade, owing to the 

 shortness of keep ; on the whole, a considerable trade was 

 done. 



STROOD SHEEP AND CATTLE FAIR.— The show of 

 sheep was very large ; there was also a good supply of horses 

 for agricultural purposes ; few beasts and calves. Trade was 

 brisk, and very firm ; the total number of sheep penned being 

 6,152. This large supply of sheep is mainly owing to the 

 want of keep; the highest price for Kent tegs was 44s.; and 

 half-bred tegs 453. was asked and refused, and they were 

 eventually cleared at 43s. per head ; other sheep varied from 

 30s. to 40?. The average price for four and five years old 

 horses was from £30 to £50. At the close of the fair all the 

 sheep were sold, and nearly every horse and beast. The stock 

 of beasts were very lean, but everything sold well. The 

 attendance of farmers was considerable from all parts of 

 Kent. 



