THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



275 



Scarcely a complaint has reached us from any part of 

 England on the subject of the potato disease. Throughout 

 the month the crop has ripened rapidly ; the tubers have 

 appeared in first-rate condition, and the total crop is un- 

 doubtedly the best and heaviest ever grown. P'rom Scot- 

 land accounts arc equally satisfactory, and in some parts of 

 Ireland the growth is likely to turn out well; still, it is 

 evident that on the sea-coast the disease, or rot, is still to 

 be met with. Our markets have been abundantly sup- 

 plied, and prices have ranged from 3s. to Gs. per cvvt. 



This has been a remarkablj' fine fruit season. In every 

 county the produce of all kinds is wonderfully large, and 

 prices have, consequently, resumed an average level. The 

 cider districts must be greatly benefited by a large return 

 of apples. 



The wool trade has been remarkably active. Nearly 

 90,000 bales of foreign and colonial wool have been disposed 

 of, at the sales held throughout the month, and prices have 

 advanced lr,d. to 2^d. per lb. This improvement in value 

 has had considerable influence upon the demand for Eng- 

 lish qualities, which have advanced about Id. per lb. 



The various cattle markets have been only moderately 

 supplied with stock, cliiefly in middling condition, and the 

 trade generaily has ruled active, on higher terras. At one 

 period the pastures were very bare of grass, but the supply 

 has now become more abundant, yet without being suffi- 

 ciently large to insure anything like a good second crop of 

 hay. 



The prospects of an average growth of hops has improved 

 of late, and the duty has risen to £155,000. A few new 

 pockets have found buyers at £8 to £12 12s. per cvvt. 



The turnip, beet, and carrot ciops have progressed ex- 

 tremely well. They have derived great benefit from the 

 rains, and an unusually large produce is generally anti- 

 cipated. 



In Ireland and Scotland considerable progress has been 

 made in harvest work, under the most favourable auspices. 

 Generally the crops are represented as good ones, both as to 

 quantity and quality. 



iREVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



The metropolitan as well as most of the local markets 

 have been but moderately supplied with each kind of fat 

 stock, and its general quality has exhibited a great de- 

 ficiency, compared with the previous month. The demand 

 generally having been active, prices have advanced from 2d. 

 to fully 4d. per 8 lbs., and even higher rates arc anticipated 

 by the graziers. To speculate upon greatly enhanced rates 

 above present values would be attended with more than or- 

 dinary risk; and our impression is that the rise here referred 

 to is chiefly the result of unusually hot weather having 

 prompted competition — in other words, rendered it unsafe 

 to transmit large supplies of dead meat from the provinces 

 to London. This trade, it must be remarked, will speedily 

 revive, and we have no hesitation in saying that, in a 

 general way, prices are more likely to give vvay than ad- 

 vance. During a great portion of the month the pastures 

 have been very bare of grass, and large quantities of hay 

 have, of necessity, been consumed upon most stock farms; 

 but it is satisfactory to learn that the health of the stock 

 has continued good, and that instances of disease have been 

 seldom met with. 



We have imported a fair supply of stock from abroad, 

 but the Dutch graziers have intimated that the proposed 



abolition of the butchers' monopoly in Paris is likely not 

 only to increase the demand for both beasts and sheep, but 

 likewise to enhance their value. It is admitted, however, 

 the production of live stock in Holland is on the increase. 



There is every prospect of a very large growth of beet, 

 mangel-wurzel, and turnips for winter consumption. This 

 is au important matter for the graziers as well as for the 

 consumer, more especially as the produce of this year's hay 

 crop has fallen considerably short of last season, which, it 

 will be recollected, was the most abundant one ever known. 



The total supplies of stock shown in the great Metropoli- 

 tan Cattle Market have been as under : — 



Beasts 20,005 head. 



Cows 51.0 „ 



Sheep and lambs 143,758 „ 



Calves 3,173 „ 



Pigs 2,450 „ 



Comparison of Supplies. 



Aug. Beasts. Sheep and Calves. Pigs. 



Lambs. 



1853 24,345 172,102 3,431 2,990 



1854 21,384 164,920 4,28G 3,870 



\S5r- 20,816 151,870 3,356 4,272 



1856 21,271 147,250 3,354 2,875 



The arrivals of beasts from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, 

 and Northamptonshire during the past month have been 

 9,800 shorthorns; Irom other parts of England, 4,600 of 

 various breeds ; from Scotland, 229 Scots; and from Ire- 

 land, 240 oxen. 



The imports of stock into London have been as follows : 



Beasts 4,692 head. 



Sheep 23,215 „ 



Lambs 1,760 „ 



Calves 2,661 „ 



Pigs 2,322 „ 



Total 34,650 „ 



CoMPAiiisoN OF Imports. 



Aug. Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 



1853 4,929 22,436 2,579 2,908 2,055 



1854 5,507 19,770 1,178 2,495 2,176 



1855 5,941 22,605 984 2,484 3,476 



1856 5,677 17,801 1,271 2,301 1,901 



The above comparison shows that we have received a 

 fair supply into the metropolis. At the various outports 

 about 10,000 head have been received. 



Beef has changed hands in London at from 3s. to 5s. ; 

 mutton, 2s. lOd. to 5s. 4d. ; lamb, 4s. 8d. to 6s.; veal, 

 3s. 6d. to 5s. ; pork, 3s. 8d. to 4s. 8d. per 81bs., to sink 

 the oflal. 



Comparison of Prices. 



Aug., 1854. Aug., 1855. Aug., 1856. 



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

 Beef, from 3 2 to 5 0.. 3 10 to 5 4.. 3 2 to 5 

 Mutton ..3 4 — 5 0..3 6 — 5 2.. 3 4—5 2 

 Lamb ....4 2 — 5 6.. 4 8 — 6 0..4 8 — 6 

 Veal 3 2 — 4 6.. 4 4 — 5 4.. 3 6—5 



Pork. 



3 4 — 4 8.. 3 6 — 4 6.. 3 4 



4 8 



Newgate and Leadenhall markets have been very 

 moderately supplied with meat, and the trade generally 

 has ruled steady, on higher terms. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, 

 FAIRS, &c. 



BADENOCH L.\MB MARKET.— PWcca ranged as fol- 

 lows : Eor top Iambs, from 93. to lOs- ; second lambs, froni 

 63- to 7s. ; shot lambs, from Ss- to 43- 6d. a-head. 



BANBURY MONTHLY FAIR was very Well attended 

 for this time of year. Tiie supply of beasts wfts not large, but 

 of mutton an average number were ou sale. Fat beef sold 



