THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



559 



Beef haa sold at from 3s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. ; muttou, 4a. to 63. 

 6d. ; lamb, Ss. 8d. to 83. ; veal, Is. 4d. to 63. 6d. ; and pork, 

 48. to 53. 4d. per Bibs, to sink the offal. 



CoMPAiusoN OF Pricks. 



May, 1856. May, 1857. 



s. d. 8. d. s. d. s. d. 



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



Mutton 3 6 5 4 3 4 5 4 



Lamb 54 66 56 70 



Veal 3 10 5 6 .... 3 8 6 



Pork 3 4 4 8 .... 3 8 5 



May, 1858. May, 1859. 



s. d. s. d. 8. d. 3. d. 



Beef, from 3 to 4 6 3 4 to 4 10 



Mutton ;5 2 4 6 3 6 5 



Lamb 58 70 54 64 



Veal 4 5 4 4 5 6 



Pork 3 2 4 4 .... 3 2 4 2 



Very limited supplies of meat have been on offer in New- 

 gate and Leadenhall markets. Trade generally has been very 

 active. 



Beef has sold at from 3s. 4d. to 4s. 8d. ; Mutton, 3s. 8d- 

 to O's. ; Lamb, 53. 8d. to 78. 2d. ; Veal, 43. to 53. 4d. ; Pork> 

 43. to 53. 4d., per 81b3. by the carcase. 



conceive, be extravagantly high. The corn trade progresses 

 slowly, but is slijjhtly dearer, and we still anticipate higher 

 prices.— Your Fen Reporter. — May 2lst, 18G0. 



ISLE OF ELY. 

 Very great changes have occurred in the character of the 

 weather since our last report was written : we then predicted 

 that we were again on the eve of a return to cold, and so it 

 proved. We continued to have frosty mornings, frequently 

 with ice, with bitterly cold north-east winds for nearly three 

 weeks. This weather told seriously upon vegetation. On 

 the 18th April we had a terrific gale of wind from the north- 

 east, which threatened to be very destructive to many of the 

 crops in our fen districts. The dust was blowing in clouds 

 in all directions from the land. Newly-sown oats were 

 threatened with entire destruction, and, doubtless, many 

 were seriously injured. The wheats, too, on light, weak 

 soils, sustained considerable injury. On the morning of the 

 7th instant we had one of the sharpest frosts we had expe- 

 rienced all the spring ; the ice was quite thick. On the 

 few days previously, as also on the day immediately succeed- 

 ing it, we had a good deal of brilliant sunshine, and we 

 always find bright da}'s, with a high temperature before and 

 after a severe frost in the spring, tend to make it much 

 more destructive to vegetation on our fen lands, and in this 

 particular instance our previously-formed opinions received 

 a full confirmation. This one night, followed by a sunny 

 day, did more mischief to our fen wheats than all the adverse 

 weather of the long and protracted winter had done. The 

 flag and stem were cut, and in many instances looked quite 

 white in colour, and lay upon the ground in all directions, 

 smelling almost like hay-fields. Happily, this weather did 

 not continue, but was immediately succeeded by a freedom 

 from cold frosts at nights, and in a few days by a magnifi- 

 cent rain, which has thoroughly saturated every inch of 

 ground. On Saturday, the 12th instant, the rain began to 

 fall about 8 p.m., and continued, without intermission, till 

 4 p.m. on the following day ('20 hours). During the whole 

 of last week, too, we had copious showers, and on Tuesday 

 we had a very severe thunderstorm, when the rain fell in 

 torrents, and our farmers were beginning to fear that an ex- 

 cess of moisture would be realised ; but the clouds have been 

 dispersed, and again we have brilliant weather, and vege- 

 tation is making rapid progress. Our crops are generally 

 recovering, and presenting a more promising appearance. 

 The wireworm is rather busy on some of the oat lands, and 

 is thinning the plant a good deal in some instances. Man- 

 gold seeding was scarcely finished when the rain fell, and 

 has consequently been suspended for a week. The pastures 

 are in their very best attire, and present a most beautiful 

 aspect. Shortness of keeping will not be again a complaint 

 for many a day. Our prospect for hay is good, and crops 

 must be heavy. Both bullocks and sheep sell more freely at 

 considerably better prices. The opinion we ventured to offer 

 in our two last reports as to the sale of sheep when the grass 

 season had arrived, appears likely now to be confirmed by 

 fact. Prices are pointing upwards, and will, ere long, we 



ESSEX. 

 Throughout this county, as in moat others, a great quantity 

 of rain has fallen during the past fortnight, and especially so 

 ou Saturday the 12th iust., the effect of which was very ap- 

 parent on the following day, as the water rose to an unusual 

 high pitch, so as to inundate many acres of the low lands. 

 The weather of the succeeding week was very wet and un- 

 settled, accompanied with thunder ; and again ou Saturday 

 last severe hailstorms, with a very cold westerly wind to follow. 

 The present low state of temperature, succeeding as it does a 

 superabundant fall of rain, has produced a moat injurious effect 

 upon the crops, and more especially so upon the wheat and 

 barley generally, particularly upon the heavy lands of the 

 Dengey Hundred district, as also throughout the 

 Roothings, which should produce our best samples 

 of barley, but which we fear will not come 

 up to the mark this season, and certainly not in bulk. 

 The light lands have suffered, but not to the extent of the 

 heavier descriptions, and congenial weather to follow will act 

 as a saving-clause. The oat and pulse crops look pret'y well, 

 but many pieces of winter beans have suffered, owing to the 

 severity of the past inclement season. John Barleycorn un- 

 dergoes a considerable amount of rough usage, even before 

 his conversion to malt, whereby his vitality is destroyed; and 

 as water is afterwards used to extract his strength, it appears 

 to have something of the same injurious effect when in plant, 

 as much rain always acts injuriously, and causes him to turn 

 pale — a colour seldom to be desired, either ia the vegetable 

 or animal kingdom. The crops of grass and clover proaiise to 

 be very heavy, as the weather has been most favourable to 

 their growth, the wet not having set in till the frosts had 

 nearly disappeared, and so late that they have caused little or 

 no check. The wheat markets have made such rapid advances, 

 and to such a high figure, that the like has not been known for 

 many years past. The corn trade has been gradually improv- 

 ing, but still rules low ; however, we hope that there are" good 

 times coming." — May 28th. 



WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 

 Many months have elapsed since we could report favourably 

 of agricultural productions. Not only have we entertained 

 serious apprehensions of the wheat, but the pasture lands 

 have presented a barren appearance, and the rick-yards became 

 seriously exhausted to keep the stock alive. So great and 

 gratifying a change as that which took place in a few days can 

 scarcely ever be remembered, and would appear almost incre- 

 dible, except to those who have carefully observed the benign 

 influences of a bountilul Providence. Dry weather accompa- 

 nied with occasionally hot sunny days inaugurated the month 

 till the 8th, when slight showers refreshed the earth, giving an 

 impetus to vegetation ; and during the three following days 

 warm rain descended in considerable quantities, since which 

 the growth of every species of plant and herb has been most 

 luxuriant. In our last communication we noticed how back- 

 ward the spring was as compared with last year ; but the most 

 sanguine hopes could never have anticipated such rapid and 

 gratif^'iug progress as that which has taken place since then. 

 Wheat is now looking fairly promising, and may, with a con- 

 tinuance of auspicious weather, be productive ; and the other 

 kinds of grain have improved in equal ratio. In nothing, 

 however, is improvement more conspicuous than in the pas- 

 tures, which throughout the extensive vale reaching from 

 Gloucester to Bristol is of the utmost importance. Dairy- 

 farmers were indeed at one time quite desponding. In many 

 instances they have not a sufficient quantity of arable land to 

 cultivate mangold : thus their only resource is in their hay, 

 and there ia a very large stock of cattle in the country. In- 

 stigated by the increasing value two years since, there is 

 scarcely a farmer who has not reared more than his accustomed 

 compliment. The past inclement winter and the late spring 

 has therefore been more than usually perplexing, while many 

 who would have been sellers could not find purchasers without 

 making sacrifices. The dulness of the markets has, how- 

 ever, passed away now that keep is naore abundant. The 

 demand for cheese has enhanced its value, and as soon as 



