THK FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



yi 



eventful period have been and passed away ! " Their name is 

 legion ;" and how many associations, delightful and sad, does 

 this season call up to us ! How many have gone, to whom we 

 looked with filial and leverentiil respect, whose ample experi- 

 ence miglit be a safe guide for our youth, and on the accuracy 

 of whose opinion we always regulated our paths ! But tlie 

 stern destroj-er does not hold witli the aged and well-stricken 

 in years : the young, the gay, the beautiful are all proper food 

 for his insatiate jaws. How much it behoves us then, who 

 are now spared to ^enjoy the festivities of another Christmas, 

 to " join treml>ling with our mirth!" How many of U9 may 

 be numbered and marked to fall before another Christmas I For 

 how many the stern mandate has gone forth, " Cut them 

 down : whycumbercth they the ground?" That such an order 

 has gone forth for " numbers is certain ; the reverse is sure to 

 none." " Be ye also ready." During November we had our 

 quota of dull cheerless days, a portion of wet, and some severe 

 frost ; on the whole an unseasonable month, and favourable for 

 the steady progression of out-door work. Ploughing is well for- 

 ward, and a goodly proportion of roots secured, which, by the 

 way, are pulling fair crops, and much better than at one time 

 during the summer could have been anticipated. Cattle are 

 all now at winter quarters ; but the idea is very prevalent that 

 less than a usual average number has gone to turnips. The 

 trade of late has been better for fat, prime animals making 

 about 7s. 6d. per 14 lbs. Sheep are, and for the last six months 

 have been, a drug on the market. Mutton must certainly be 

 in the dark shade with the million, or sheep-breeding of late 

 must have been more extensively followed. Grain sells at 

 ruinously low pricts ; and if present rates hold, Halkett's rails 

 cannot be too soon laid over the length and breadth of our 

 district, if the advantages promised in bis able paper are at 

 all likely to arise from tbeir adoption. Bui the great bug-bear 

 in connection with the system is, and will be, the immense 

 capital required. Good wheat can be got at 403. per qr. ; 

 barley, malting from 32s. to 343. ; grinding barley, of which 

 a very goodly proportion in this district this season must be 

 classed, brings 283. per qr. New oata from lO^d to IHd. per 

 stone J fresh old oats from 32s to 35s. per qr. — Dec. 23. 



AGRICULTURAL LNTELLIGENCE, 



FAIRS, &c. 



BEDALE FORTNIGHT FAIK.~We hadagood show 

 of fat beasts, hut a small one of sheep. All kinds of fat stock 

 were in good sale, at the full rates of last fortnight. A small 

 quantity of holding stock sold at late rates. Beef, 63. 6i. to 

 73. 3d. per stone ; mutton, 5^d. to 6|d. per lb. 



COMBE ST. NICHOLAS FAIR was well attended by 

 fanners. The supply of all kinds of stock was large, excel- 

 lent in quality, and met a read^' sale, good prices being 

 obtained for the greater part. 



KELSO FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— The supply of fat 

 Cattle was not large, but there were a number of them of 

 good quality. There was a good demand, and all were dis- 

 posed, at from 7s. to 8s. pet stone. 



LEDBURY FAIR.— Fat beef was not very plentiful, 

 but what there was was fine. It fetched from 6Jd. to 7d. 

 per lb. Fat sheep made G^d., ewes 7d. x\ few 

 store beasts were in the fair, which were sold, though the 

 dealers were scarcely willing to give the prices asked. 



PENRITH FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— We had 

 a L\rge show of sheep (upwards of 1,200); a great many, 

 however, were blackfaced, and not well up in condition. 

 For those fit for the butcher a good demand was experienced, 

 at prices a little in advance of last market. In cattle the 

 show was very good. The market closed with a dull 

 tone. 



PAIGNTON MONTHLY MARKET was attended by a 

 great number of buyers and dealers, and the supply of stock 

 was large. Beef, of which there was some very prime speci- 

 mens, is quotable at from 5s. 6d. to 6s. 6d. per cwt., and mut- 

 ton at 5d. to ejd. per lb. 



SHREWSBURY FORTNIGHTLY MARKET.— 

 The best fat beef sold for fully C^d. per lb., inferior cows 6d., 

 fat calves 6d. to O^d. ; useful store cattle selling at fair 

 prices, also cows and calves. Fat wether sheep 7d per lb., 

 fat ewes 6|d, ; fat pigs 5d. per lb , st(nes selling better. 



STRATFORD-ON-AVON FAIR was well attended 

 with buyers, and there was plenty of fat stock, the majority 



of which was of a very superior quality, and met with a 

 ready sale at first-rate prices. Beef from b'^d. to 7id. per 

 lb. There were about 800 sheep. Mutton and lamb, be.st 

 qualities, brought very good prices. Fat bacon pigs brought 

 from 7s. b"d. to fls. (id. per score. 



YORK FORTNIGHT MARKET.— There was only athiu 

 supply of (at beasts, but the butchers having previously pur- 

 cluiaed their Christmas beef, the trade was slow, at prices rang- 

 ing to 7s. per stone. There was only a limited supply of 

 sheep, which were well sold up. In- calvers and milch cows were 

 in good supply, as also grazing stock, but the market for them 

 was heavy. We had a good supply of pigs. Pork pigs were 

 ill good demand, at 63. to 6s. 6d.,but bacon ones were heavy, 

 at .'is. 6d. to 63. per stone, including the head and feet. A 

 large number of Irish pigs were again exhibited, and sold at 

 53. Od. to 53. 9d. per stone. Pork haras were as last quoted. 



COUNTRY POTATO MARKETS.— York, Dec. 18 :- 

 Potatoes sell at 6d. per peck, and Is. 8d. to Is. lOd. per bush. 

 Lkeds, D«c. 21 : We had a large show of Potatoes, which 

 sold at 8el. wholesale, and 9d. retail per 21lb3. Sheffield, 

 Dec. 20 : Potatoes sell at 58. 6d. to 83. 6d. per load of 18 

 stones. Richmond, Dec. IS : Potatoes, 28. 8d. per bushel.' 

 Manchester, Dec. 21 : Potatoes, 6s. Gd. to lOs. per 

 252 lbs. 



IRISH FAIRS.— Bennett'sbridgb : There was only a 

 snail and inferior stock of every kiiid, and any beasts which 

 were of tolerably good quality were readily sold a fair average 

 prices ; but the amount of business done generally was not 

 large. There were no pigs ; but a tolerably good supply of 

 horses met a quick demand, at long prices. — Kells was not 

 so large as was anticipated. The show of beef was on a mo- 

 derate scale, not being much more than sufficient for the ac- 

 accommodation of the town. Store bullocks were in good 

 demand, at from £7 to £11, and heifers at from £3 to £12 

 each, ycarhngs £4 to £5 lOs. each. There was also but a 

 moderate supply of sheep, and all were sold. Pigs were 

 abundant, and buyers equal to the quantity present. Prices, 

 however, were not higher, being from 3Ss. to 40s. per cwt. 

 Porkers sold at from 38s. to SOs. each; stores were in good 

 demand, at from 253. to 45s. each. There was a fair at- 

 tendance on the horse green, and brisk business done, at 

 prices ranging up to £40 and £50 each. Mullagh- 

 crew was a small one, and prices, in consequence of the 

 great competition, ended somewhat higher, prime beef bring- 

 ing 568. to 6O3. per cwt. The demand for dry cattle was 

 pretty brisk. Two-year-old store bullocks brought from £7 to 

 £9 each ; three-year-olds from £9 to £11 lOs. each. Spring- 

 ers went off briskly at from £8 to £16 per head ; and milk 

 cows also met ready sales at similar figures. Three-year-old 

 store heifers brought from £8 to £12 each. For sheep the 

 demand was brisk at fair prices. Prices of pigs were lower, 

 ranging for bacon pigs from o7s. to 403. per cwt. Store pigs 

 sold well at from 353. to 45s. each. Ball\bay: Prime 

 beef went oflf pretty briskly at from 56s. to 583. per cwt.; 

 three-year-old heifers brought from £9 to £12; two year-old 

 ditto from £8 to £10 10s., and yearlings from £3 10s. to £5 

 each. Two-year-old store bullocks sold at from £7 to £10 per 

 head. Springers and milch cows were not very numerous, and 

 went off quickly, at from £.0 to £14 each. The pig fair was 

 large, and in good request. Bacon on the foot brought from 

 38s. to 4O3. per cwt. ; stores from 25s. to 443. each. 



GLOUCESTER CHEESE MARKET.— The supply was 

 very small (about 30 tons), and consequently there was more 

 tone to the trade than of late, factors being willing buyers, but 

 prices cannot be quoted higher. Loaves and thicks fetched 

 66s. ; broad doubles, 58s. to 60s. ; best singles, 548. to 56s. ; 

 seconds, 423. to 443. ; and skim, 20s. to 303. per cwt. A good 

 clearance was effected. 



GLASGOW CHEESE MARKET.— Supplies were about 

 the same as last day; demand better. There were 16 tons 

 passed the weigh-house scales, and six carts were shown in 

 the market. New 423. to 453., prime early-made 52s., skim 

 22s. 6d. to 248. per cwt. No alteration in other articles. 



BELFAST,(Thuradaylast.)— Butter: Shipping price, 98s. 

 to 103s. per cwt.; firkins and crocks, lOd. to 10|d. per lb. 

 Bacon, 469. to 50s.; Hams, prime 72s. to 8O3., second quality 

 60s. to 663. per cwt. Prime mess Pork, 76s. to 77s. per brL ; 

 Beef, I20s. to 130s. per tierce; Irish Lard, in bladders, 

 663. to 703.; kegs or firkins, 608. to 643. per cwt. Pork, 

 42s. to 46s. 6d. per 120 lbs. 



