THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



561 



favour of the seller than have lately prevailed. The pig trade 

 was confined to sundry deals for stores, of which the supply 

 was large, aud which brought tolerably good pric:s. The 

 horse fair presented a very lively appearance, but though there 

 was no lack in point of numbers, good animals, for either road 

 or field, were decidedly scarce, aiid iu an oversfhelmiug minor- 

 ity. The trade was generally very bad, aud equine stock de- 

 cidedly a drug, though there were inquiries for useful hacks at 

 fair prices, auil good draught horses commanded prices varying 

 ,from £4o, for three and four-year-olds, downwards. 



HORSHAM FAIR was mucli larger than usual ; and 

 stock of all kinds, that were in a fit condition for the 

 butcher, realized a very high price ; and miitton, more par- 

 ticnlarly, was put up at an exorbitant figure. Trade with 

 lean stock was altogether as dull throughout the day, and 

 but very little business was etfected. 



KIDDERMINSTER FAIR.— There was a full supply 

 of stock, and in good condition. Prices were a trifle lo\ver 

 than at recent sales, though some fresh barrens, nice 

 weights, fetched good prices. Sheep were not so plentiful, 

 and fetched ZJd. to 8d. out of the wool. Horses numerous, 

 and sales freely made. 



LISKEARD FAIR.— There was but a small supply of 

 fat bullocks, which sold at Cos. to 70s. per cwt. A limited 

 number of fat sheep, 8d. to 8|d. per lb. A large'supply of 

 lambs, I83. to 233. each. Cows and calves 50s. to 539. per 

 cwt., store cattle 40s. to 50s. per cwt. 



SHERBORNE FAIR v/as well attended by agricul- 

 turists and dealers. The supply of stock generally was 

 small. The prices were as follows: Heifers and calves from 

 £9 10s. to £12 10s., two-year old heifers £5 10s. to £7 IO3. 

 each, yearling heifers £5 lOs. to £G eich, barreners 12s. to 

 1 8s. per score. There were but few sheep penned. Down 

 couples from 383. to 40s. per couple, Down hoggs 333. to 

 35s. each, mutton from 8d. to 9d. per lb. There was a short 

 supply of pigs : the best large stores fetched from 26s. to 



28s. each, middle size from 1 8s. to 21s. each, small do. from 

 8s. 6d. to 12s. Gd. each, barren so\v9 from 55s. to 62s. each. 



SHREVVSBtJRY FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— 

 Beef, which, considering the state of the season, was in as 

 good supply as might be expected, realized from 75d. to 

 8d., calves 6nd. per lb. Mutton : Supply not great — S^d. 

 per lb. shorn, lOd. per lb. unshorn. Pigs in tolerable quan- 

 tity ; rates high. Good business done. 



TOLLERDOWN FAIR was a brisk one, the demand 

 for sheep, ou account of the great change in the weather, 

 and sudden supply of keep, being particularly good. Ewes, 

 horns 44s. to 523., Downs 28s. to 353., couples 41s. to 483. 

 Some fat beasts were brought under the hammer, and 

 knocked down at 123. a score. 



IRISH FAIRS. — At Castlepollaud fair there was a large 

 attendance, and a sharp competition for all kinds of stock. 

 Threeyear-old heifers were quickly picked up, at prices vary- 

 ing from £11 to £15, dry cows £9 to £13 ; beef scarce, and 

 sold at fully 8d. per lb. The supply of fat sheep was small, 

 and fetched 7id. to 8d. per lb., hoggets 403. to 458., springers 

 £12 to £16, sucking pigs 173. to 23s., stores 40s. to 453. each. 

 At Athy fair the supply of store cattle was large. Prime stock 

 was in very brisk demand, but inferior sorts were dull. At 

 Golden fair buying for the English market was brisk ; milch 

 C0W3 brought £9 to £15, two-year-olds £6 to £9, yearlings 

 £3 to £5. The demand for sheep was good, but the show was 

 rsther short. At Killenante fair a good deal of bu.'iness was 

 done. At Templemore fair the supply of store heifers was 

 good, which were chiefly in demand, but high prices were also 

 given fcr every other description of stock. Springers were 

 enormously dear, up to £17 being freely paid for top beasts. 

 Bullocks also iu great deuiand. Strippers of good quality 

 sold well, but those of an inferior kind were very cheap. The 

 sheep department was thinly supplied, but some hoggets went 

 as high as 53s., whilst for others Sis. to 45s. were freely 

 given. 



REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE 



DURING THE PAST MONTH. 



The commencement of May was unpromising, 

 the harsh wind, prevalent through April, still check- 

 ing vegetation, and giving but little solace either to 

 graziers, or agriculturists; but in the second 

 week this austerity ceased, and a sumnierlike 

 temperature commenced, which, with occasional 

 rains, have quite changed the face of the country. 

 The meadows lately so bare have become luxuriant, 

 and corn of every kind has made rapid progress, 

 but the wheat in many places, after such a vigorous 

 e.xposure to severe frosts and drying east winds, 

 shows many blank places, which, unless the future 

 season should become highly propitious, gives but 

 poor chance for a full crop. Some lands, as in 

 Norfolk, look as well as need be, but the wide 

 diflferences obtaining point rather to an average 

 crop at best than to any surplus. The close of 

 April showed some abatement on the previous ad 

 vance ; and the beginning of this month was dull, 

 but eventually about Is. per qr. was gained in 

 value, with a calm state of trade, finer weather, and 

 better foreign supplies. As respects prospects this 

 side harvest, these must be greatly influenced by 

 the weather. Should it all along prove fine, holders 

 will, of course, be more disposed to sell. But as 

 stocks have become moderate, and no very heavy 

 foreign arrivals are yet expected, and moreover, as 

 the high price of meat must necessarily give a 

 large increase to the consumption of bread, we can- 



not anticipate much decline ; while, on the other 

 hand, the wants of Ireland being great, and harvest 

 yet distant, the smallest adverse circumstance is 

 likely to raise prices, and anything disastrous would 

 do so seriously. There is also throughout the 

 country a greater confidence in the value of all 

 cereals. 



Wheat and barley were being reaped in Egypt 

 more than a month ago, and promised an average; 

 they are now cutting, or cut, in Algiers with a 

 satisfactory result ; and everything looks well as 

 yet in Portugal, Spain, and Italy, so that but for 

 the bareness of stocks there would before this have 

 been an important decline. All through France, 

 Belgium, Holland, the Baltic, Southern Russia, 

 and the Principalities there is a fair promise ; but 

 America is yet doubtful, from the numerous failures 

 of autumn-sown wheat, which have had only a 

 recent replacement with that of spring growth. 

 With a favouring Providence the world will, there- 

 fore, again be abundantly supplied. But the vast 

 increase of its population, and extended commerce 

 every year, claim more, and bring to light those 

 stores which formerly were wasted, or misued. 



The following prices were lately ruling in the 

 several countries noted : The best flour at Paris 

 was worth 39s. 6d. per sack of 280 lbs. ; and 

 choice wheat about 55s. to 56s. Fine red at 

 Louvain, 62 to 63 lbs. per bushel, brought 57s. per 



