THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



5^7 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR MAY. 



During the early part of the month, serious apprehensions, 

 owing to the uuiisnally backward state of vegetation in all 

 pjrta of the United Kingdom, and the great scarcity of food 

 in our grazing districts, were felt in reference to the ultimate 

 fate of live stock, both beasts and shtep. The advices at hand 

 from Scotland and different parts of England, stating that 

 Severe losses had been experienced, and that the graziers were 

 compelled to dispose of th^ir stock in a half-fat state, induced 

 the opinion that, within a brief perioJ, pricos would rule ruin- 

 ously high to the consumers. A anddeu and most beuelicial 

 change having takou p!ace in the atmosphere, and a fuUavenise 

 quantity of raia having fallen, with the wind mostly blowing 

 from the southward and westward, the supply of grass in the 

 pastures rapidly inrreased, stock was withheld from the various 

 mirkcts, and trade became in an excited state. The result is, 

 that the quotations of both beasts and sheep have risen higher 

 than has bec-a known during the last thirty years, and the 

 utmost difficulty has been experienced in obtaining adequate 

 supplies of meat for cousumptioa in the metropolis and else- 

 where at any price. 



The accounts which have reached us from most quarters on 

 the subject of the wheat crop are not of so favourable a 

 characier as could be wished. It is quite true that, during the 

 past fortnight, tuc plants have taken a rapid start, and that 

 they have greatly improved iu appearance ; but we learn with 

 regret that they are by no means eo thick upon the ground as 

 to warrant us m assumins; that there are indications of a full 

 average yield. These accounts, added to the enormous con- 

 sumption going on, and the comparatively limited supplies at 

 hand from abroad, have had their accustomed influence upon 

 the wheat trade. Notwithstanding that it has not been to 

 say very brisk, prices have steadily advanced, and the previous 

 decline in them has been recovered. The present state of the 

 demand, and the small stocks of foreign held by the importers, 

 led to much discussion in reference to the probable range in 

 future prices. Mu'.'ii, of course, will depend upon the quantity 

 of wheat Hi the hands of the home-growers, and, consequently, 

 their ability to meet the demands of the millers between this 

 aud the commencement of harvest work. It must, we think, 

 be admitted, that the prodncc of the crop last year was a very 

 moderate one, both ai to quantity and quality. The growth 

 of straw was, however, the largest ever known ; hence, appa- 

 rently, full average quantities of wheat are still held. We 

 believe, however, that the produce of the flail aud thrashing 

 machine during the next three or four months will prove a 

 source of disappointmont to the growers, from the dispropor- 

 tion iu the supply of straw to the actual quantity of wheat in 

 stack. It follows, therefore, that wheat is not likely to recede 

 much iu value for sorue time, aud tliat it will be necessary to 

 import largely in order to keep prices in check. Although it 

 is stated, on what may be called good authority, that the Bal- 

 tic, as well as the south of Russia, will furnish their usual 

 supplies of grain, it may be doubled, owing to the crfmparative 

 scarcity of shipping aud the prevailing high rates, whether they 

 will reach us in large quantities until a somewhat later period 

 than usual. Under these circumstances we may safely assume 

 that wheat has seen its lowest range of value for some time. 

 In reference to barley, we may state that the supplies on hand 

 are almost wholly exhausted, and that we shall he dependent 

 upon the foreigner for such quantities as may be required for 

 consumption. During the whole of the malting season— now 

 closed — all kinds have been selling at very high quotations ; 

 indeed, more money hr.s been realized for this particular kind 

 of produce thau iu most previous years ; aud we believe that, 

 had it not been for the extensive growth iu Scotland last year, 

 the quotations would haTe ranged evea considerably higher. 



notwithstanding the extent of the importations from the con- 

 tinent. For oats, which have come slowly to hand, the 

 demand has ruled active, at further advanced rates, aud the 

 value of both beans and peas has been well eupported. All 

 spring corn, in fact, has been disposed of at rates con»iderably 

 above the value of wheat in a comparative sense, as regards 

 actual market quctatious. Flour has produced more money, 

 and present quotations may lead to steady shipments if that 

 article both from France aud the United States. We believe, 

 however, that there is no reason to anticipate what may be 

 termed heavy importations from those quarters. 



The public sales of colonial wool held during the mouth 

 have been numerously attended both by home aud continental 

 buyers. They opened somewhat heavily, at ^d. to l^d. per lb. 

 less money, compared with the r.^tes of the previous series ; 

 but prices have since sliown a hardening tendency, and the 

 whole of the parcels offered to the present time have changed 

 hands. It is supposed that nearly 90,000 bales, inrlndiug all 

 descriptions, will be brought forward, since it is announced 

 that the sale.* will not close before the 2nd of June, The 

 removjl of the duties on imports of wool into France has, no 

 doubt, imparted more firmness to the sales than would other- 

 wise have be?n the chec, aud that removal has led to the pur- 

 chase of ueirly 20,000 b.-.Ics on continental account. For 

 English wool there has been au improved demand, at prices 

 fully equal to the previous month. The supplies held by our 

 manufacturers are still very moderate, and compliinls are 

 general that manufactured fabrics continue to be disposed of 

 at quotations which leave au unusually small margin of profit. 

 Trade, however, is certainly iu a flourishing state , our ex- 

 ports continue on an extensive scale, and nearly the whole of 

 the mills arc running full time. The latest advices from Aus- 

 tralia bring rather lower prices for wool, owing to a falling-off 

 in the speculative demaud, aud to the increased quantities 

 coming forward. 



For hay and straw, arising from the backward slate of the 

 season, there has been au active demand, and, at one period 

 during the month, high prices were realized for both meadow 

 and clover hay ; the former having realized £'i to £5 Ss., the 

 latter £4 to £6 6s. per load. Tne present quotations rule 

 tbus ; — Meadow hay, £3 to £4 178. ; clover, £4 to £5 ITs. ; 

 straw is quoted cat £i 6i. to £1 13s. per load. 



The hop trade, though steafiy, has been in aa uus'itisfactory 

 state. No change of importance has taken place in the quota- 

 tions, the plantation accounts have been tolerably favourable, 

 and the duty has been done at £140,000. The supplies of 

 English hops on hand are stilllarge ; but we have had scarcely 

 any importations from the continent. 



Potatoes have come to hand somewhat freely from Scotland, 

 in, for the most part, good saleable condition ; but the Metro- 

 politan merkets have been very scantily supplied with those 

 grown in England. At this time last year the beat qualities 

 were selling at 200s. ; now they are worth 180s. per ton. 

 Apparently, therefore— and we must bear in mind that we 

 have drawn very limited supplies both from Ii eland and the 

 continent since the beginning of the year — the produce in 1859 

 was somewhat in excess of estimates published iu the early 

 part of the season. 



There has been a steady, but by uo means active, demand 

 for wheat in most of the Scotch markets— which, generally 

 speaking, have been fairly supplied — at about stationary prices. 

 The small quantities of spring corn on offer have changed 

 hands freely at extreme rate.^. The shipments of grain to the 

 south liave exhibited a considerable falling clT. 



Only limited supplies of wheat have been o:i offer in most of 

 the markets held in Ireland, and most descriptions have 

 changed hands fteadily at full quotations. Barley, oats, and 

 other articles have commanded extreme rates. The few pota- 

 toes brought forward have realized hi«;h currencies, and the 

 stocks appear to have been almost wholly disposed of. 



