366 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



the urinary liquid, and clean out all tlie cuh^erts 

 that lead from the cattle yards to the pit : the 

 absorption of urine by earthy substances is the 



best use of liquid matters. Tanks should be roofed 

 over, as the exclusion of light is found to promote 

 putrefaction. . 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICaLTTTRAL REPORT FOR 

 SEPTEMBER. 



With the exception of a few patches of grain remaining 

 out in the mostnorthern counties, harvest work was brought 

 to a general close in this country b\- the 1 0th of this month, 

 one of the earliest periods almost on record. Although the 

 quantitj' of new 'wheat as yet thrashed out is by no means 

 extensive, we are enabled to form positive conclusions in 

 reference to its yield. That it is the best, taken in the ag- 

 gregate, almost ever remembered, is admitted by the growers 

 themselves ; and this must be evident when we state that 

 both in f]ssex and Kent, the growth has come up to 6}^ qrs. 

 to the acre. This extensive produce has led many persons 

 to the conclusion that prices must of necessity rule consi- 

 derably lower, and that, as our advices from all parts of the 

 globe are favourable as regards the wheat crop, v/e shall 

 receive enormous impoitationsof grain during the remainder 

 of the year. We freely admit that our farmers have now 

 an immense amount of food on hand ; but that is no positive 

 proof that prices will run down to a very low point, because 

 we must bear in mind that consumption in this country is 

 enormous, and that consequently it is not very probable 

 that produce will be forced for sale, unless at remunerative 

 prices. No doubt foreign importations will exercise a ruling 

 influence upon value, but we see no reason to anticipate 

 more than average supplies from any quarter. The imports 

 from the north will, no doubt, be equal to last season, and 

 the commercial panic in America may lead to increased 

 shipments. At present, however, there is no margin of 

 profit for speculators, and our impression is that the bulk of 

 our importations from the United States will be received 

 as exchange operations, arising from the extreme difficulty 

 on the part of the merchants at New York in obtaining 

 specie, except at ruinous rates. The general trade of the 

 United Kingdom, notwithstanding that decreased shipments 

 of manufactured goods have lately been made both to India 

 and America, is in a most healthy state, and we see no 

 reason whatever to look forward to any great depression in 

 the value of wheat. 



Although the barley crop has not turned out quite so 

 well as was at one timcj anticipated, some very fine samples 

 have made their appearance both at Mark Lane and in the 

 provincial markets. The arrivals from abroad have been 

 seasonably large; nevertheless, the trade has continued 

 steady, though on rather easier terms. The growth of 

 oats, beans, and peas appears to have been an average one, 

 and the quality of samples is turning out tolerably fine. 



Scarcely any old English wheat has made its appearance 

 in any of our markets, but this fact must not be taken as 

 evidence that the quantity on hand is limited. We believe 

 that there is above an average supply on hand, but no doubt 

 the greater portion of it will be held over, as very little is 

 now wanted for mixing purposes. 



There is now much less competition for food in the Black 

 Sea than for many years past. Scarcely any wheat has of 

 late been purchased at Odessa, or in the Turkish provinces, 

 on French account ; consequently the outflow of food will 

 be chiefly directed to this country. We are inclined to 

 think, however, that much less produce will be forwarded 

 this year than in 185G or 1855. 



Most conflicting accounts have come to hand in reference 

 to the potato crop. Many growers have intimated that nearly 

 all kinds of potatoes are extensively diseased, and others 

 state that the weight per acre is comparatively trifling. 

 These and similar statements invariably appear in print at 

 this time of year, and we believe that not a few of them are 

 written for the purpose of enhancing the value of the better 

 kinds of food. Certainly, up to this time, our markets 



have exhibited large supplies in excellent condition •, and in 

 what may be termed our potato districts, the produce is 

 very great. 



The late fine rains, aided by a comparatively high tem- 

 perature, have produced a large supply of grass in the 

 pastures. Stock has therefore fared well, and store and 

 half-fat animals have further advanced in price. Most of 

 our markets have been scantily supplied, and the cattle 

 trade has ruled brisk, on higher terms. 



There has been a full average business doing in nearly 

 all kinds of wool, at high currencies. During the first eight 

 months of the present year the total imports of foreign and 

 colonial wool into the "United Kingdom were 297,059 bales, 

 against 21J0,85G bales in the corresponding period in 185(i. 

 The increase would have been much greater had it not been 

 that a most serious epidemic has broken out amongst sheep 

 in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and which appears to have 

 been most fatal in its effects. 



The turnip and beet crops are looking well, and promise 

 a very large return. This is an important matter for the 

 grazier, whose prospects, as regards a supply of food, are 

 cheering. 



Linseed and rapeseed, as well as cakes, have commanded 

 less attention ; nevertheless, we have no material change to 

 notice in their value. The imports continue on a very 

 moderate scale ; and it is apprehended that, owing to the 

 mutiny in India, future arrivals will be limited. 



In a general point of view our advices from Ireland are 

 not satisfactory. The produce of the oat and other crops 

 does not appear to exceed an average, and it is intimated 

 that the surplus for shipment will be comparatively small. 

 Along the coast the potato disease has been general, and 

 heavy losses have been sustained ; but, in the northern 

 counties, the crop is turning up in fair condition. The old 

 stock of oats is now wholly exhausted. 



Throughout Scotland harvest work has suffered some 

 serious interruptions from the weather, and much of the 

 wheat has become sprouted from long exposure in the fields. 

 The actual quantitj' grown is firlly up to an average, and 

 the yield of other produce is tolerably good. Potatoes are 

 slightly diseased J,in some quarters ; but the shipments to 

 the south, though they have sold at low prices, have kept 

 remarkably well. 



Owing to their great abundance, both hay and straw 

 have sold heavily. The top price of meadow hay is £4 4s., 

 of clover £5 5s., and of straw £1 10s. per load. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



Although the leading markets have been Vv'ell supplied 

 with beasts during nearlj'' the whole of the month, the de- 

 mand for that descriptian of stock has ruled steady, and 

 prices have advanced about 4d. per 8 lbs. The improve- 

 ment in value, however, is chiefly confined to Scots and 

 other superior breeds, the numbers of which have been 

 small, compared with the total supplies exhibited. An 

 abundant quantity of grass in the pastures has induced not 

 a few of the graziers to withhold a portion of their supplies 

 of sheep, wliich, however, have mostly appeared in very 

 middling condition. The total number shown in the 

 Metropolitan Market has been only 127,715 head, against 

 132,014 ditto in the corresponding month last year. 'J'his 

 falling oft' in the arrivals has resulted in a very active de- 

 mand, at a further improvement in value of fully 4d. per 

 8 lbs. It may bo remarked that the stock fairs have been 

 very extensively supplied, and that prices have ruled much 

 higher than in the general run of years. The present high 



