274 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



imagined. Not that we anticipate low prices from importa- 

 tions; but we may fairly state that iucreased weight of meat 

 from abroad must keep iu check extravagantly high rates here. 

 In our leading grazing districts the health of both beasts and 

 aheep continues good, and the losses by disease for some time 

 past have been comparatively trifling. The weather has con- 

 tinued remarkably fine for the time of year ; nevertheless, the 

 pastures generally exhibit a poor appearance. 



The following return shows the numbers of stock exhibited 

 in the Metropolitan Market in the course of the month : — 



Beasts 17,694 head. 



Cows 499 „ 



Sheep 79,691 „ 



Calves 1,034 „ 



Pigs 2,557 „ 



Comparison of Supplies. 

 Feb. Beasts. Cows. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. 



1858 18,^76 466 69,070 1,091 1,559 



1857 17,6-29 457 74,4.30 1,172 1,975 



1856 1.9,642 495 99,950 673 2,614 



1855 17,436 385 91,180 596 2,705 



1854 20,091 520 92,441 1,023 2,279 



The arrivals of beasts from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and 

 Cambridgeshire, since we last wrote, have amounted to 10,500 

 Scots, short-horn?, and crosses ; from other parts of England, 

 4,000 of various breeds; from Scotland, 1,826 Scots and 

 crosses ; and from Ireland, 120 oxen, &c. 



Although stock is still dear in most parts of the Coutincnt, 

 the importations into London have been moderately exten- 

 sive, viz.: — 



Beasts 1,630 head. 



Sheep 5,124 „ 



1,055 „ 



Calves 



Total 



Same time in 1858 .. ., 

 1857... 

 1856... 

 „ ] 855 . . . 



1854... 

 1853... 

 1852... 



7,809 



2,320 „ 



4,720 „ 



3,087 „ 



2,839 „ 



10,683 „ 



12,433 „ 



9,123 „ 



1851 11,828 „ 



Beef has sold at from 3s. 2d. to 5s. ; mutton, 3s. 6d. to 

 5s. 6d. ; veal, 3s. lOd. to 5s. 6d. ; and pork, 3s. to 4s. 2d. per 

 8lbs., to sink the offal. In February, 1858, beef realized 3s. 

 to 48. 2d. ; mutton, 3s. 2d. to 5$. 2d. ; veal, 4s. to Ba. ; pork, 

 3s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. per 81bs. 



A few lambs have made their appearance in the market, in 

 excellent condition. Shorn sheep have sold at 8d. per 81bs. 

 beneath those in the wool. 



Up to Newgate and Leadenliall about 50,000 careassea of 

 each kind of meat have been received from distant parts, 

 chiefly by railway. On the whole, there has been a good con- 

 sumptive demand at full prices. Beef has changed hands at 

 from 33. to 43. 6d. ; mutton, 3$. 2d. to 4s. 8d. ; veal, Ss. 8d. to 

 4a. 8d,; pork, 23. 6d. to 4s. 2d. per 8lbs. by the carcase. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, 



FAIRS. &c. 



ASH BOURN FAIR.— There was but a small show of 

 cattle, and very few customers, .owing to other fairs falling 

 CD the same day ; anything good, however, sold well. There 

 were a few fat sheep, which were easily disposed of, making 

 7d. to 7Jd. per lb. But few horses, and sales flat. Mr. Tora- 

 linson, of Bradley Pastures, exhibited a most remarkable short- 

 horned bull, weighing one ton, which he had previously sold 

 for £32 lOs. 



BANBURY FAIR.— There was a good supply both of 

 beef and mutton, which went off briskly. Beef fetched from 

 4s. 6d.to 4i. 8d., and mutton a^jont Ss. per 8 lbs. on the aver- 

 age prices. 



BATH FAIR.~The supply of poor stock was so extensive 

 84 to be quite a drug. Prices were of the most extensive 

 range. Fat beef and mutton were in very short Bupply, and 



the demand being of a very limited description prices were 

 quite nominal. 



BEDALE FAIR.— We had a small show of all kinds of 

 stock, owing probably to Northallfrton beast fair b-ing held 

 the previous day. In-calvers and lean stock were high. Sales 

 were quickly made. Beef, 7s. to Ss. per 8 lbs. ; mutton, 6d. 

 to7id.perlb. 



BIDEFORD FAIR was far better supplied with stock than 

 it had been for years past. Cattle dealers drove in their cat- 

 tle in large herds, and the facilities which the rail offers 

 brought many buyers. Cows and calves, lOs. 6d. per score; 

 steers (two years old), £18 per pair; steers (three years old), 

 £23 per pair ; barreners, 7a. to Ts. 6d. per score ; hoggets, 

 26s. toSOs. ; fat sheep, G^d. to 7d. per lb.; couples, £2 2s. 

 to £2 5s. The whole was in middling condition, and sold 

 freely. 



CARLISLE HORSE FAIR could not be called a thin 

 one, as there was a number of good animals shown. The 

 market was not very brisk, yet a good deal of business was 

 done in the ciurse of the day, and many horses were disposed 

 of at high prices. Among those shovn we did not observe a 

 single hunter, carriage, or harness horse, there being only 

 three moderate blood horses, suitable for carrying a lady ; we 

 may say the fair consisted of work hories. The prices for the 

 best horses were from 30/. to 50/., and those of inferior q\iality 

 from 15/. to 25/. An eminent horse dealer from Glasgow, 

 having been in Cumberland for two or three weeks previous to 

 this lair, purchased 21 all-work horses, of the best quality, the 

 cost averaging nothing less than from 40/. to 50/. ; and one at 

 Carlisle, previous to leaving, 46/. 



DORCHESTER FAIR.— The best beasts readily found 

 purchasers at from lis. 6d. to 13s. per score, while cows and 

 calves were anxiously inquired after, prices ranging from 10/. 

 to 16/. The sale of barreners was rather slack in consequence 

 of the high prices asked, which checked business, and rough 

 ones could scarcely find purchasers. In the horse fair there 

 were plenty of good animals adapted to agricultural purposes, 

 the beat descriptions of which soldJat from 33/. to 40/., but 

 inferior were quite a drug. In pigs there was not much doue, 

 and the supply chiefly consisted of such as were more fit for 

 the sty than the butcher. 



EXETER FAIR.— There was a large supply of cattle. 

 Fat beef, 10s. to lOs. 6d. per score ; cows and calves, 12/. to 

 18/. ; barreners, 69. 6d. per score ; working oxen, 15/. to 20/. 

 each ; and steers, 10/. to 15/. 



KANTURK FAIR, Feb. 17-— (From our own corres- 

 pondent). — There was a very good attendance. The show 

 of horned cattle was only middling, and the prices being 

 low a good clearance was effected. Sheep and pigs were in 

 great quantities, and good prices were obtained. The fairs 

 held in this town are now becoming important, and no better 

 opportunity can be had of disposing of cattle to the numer- 

 ous farmers around this locality, where good breeds are much 

 wanted. 



YORK FORTNIGHT MARKET.— Calving and dairy 

 cows were in about equal siipply and demand, at prices steady 

 upon lute markets. A moderate number of all kinds of 

 grazing beasts had good sale, at rates a little iu favour of 

 sellers. Fat beasts and mutton sheep were in average supply 

 and demand. Beef 6s. 6d. to 7s. 6d. per stone ; mnttou 5^d. 

 to 6 id., and in r;\re instances 7d. per lb. Grazing hog sheep 

 were plentiful, and had good sale at 253. to 453. per head, as 

 per breed, size, quality, aud condition. A good supply of 

 pigs, which had fair demand. Pork pigs 63. to 63. 3d. ; bacon 

 ditto 6s. per stone, including the head and feet. Pork hams 

 realized former prices. 



IRISH FAIR.— Graic.ue (Carlow) was well supplied 

 with stock, and the demand for all descriptions was brisk ; in 

 fact, nothing left the fair unsold worth notice. Springers 

 brought from £12 to £18. Beef sold at £3 per cwt. ; 

 in one case a farmer refused £30 for a fat cow, aud subse- 

 quently lost his market for this high figure. Store cattle 

 much in demand ; two year old heifers sold at from £G to £9, 

 strippers £8 to £10, three-year old bullocks £9 to £11, calves 

 (.4 to £5. iSiieep scarce, and in request, and brought from 

 6Jd. to 7d. on their legs. Mr. .lames Diwling sold a lot of 

 prime weddcrs at 47*. per head, and a lot of six fat sold at £3 

 p(.r cwt. Pigs sold irom 428. to 458. per cwt., being about an 

 BQvance of 48. during the past week. Prices were generally 

 remunerative, stock rating high. 



