THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



361 



Most of the Scotch markets hire been toleMbly well, but 

 not to say heavily, supplied with wheat. For most kinds the 

 demand has ruled somewhat firmer, and prices have had an 

 upward tendency. Fine barley, oats, beans, and peja have 

 changed hands, at fully previous currencies. The yield of pro- 

 duce, last year, especially wheat, in Scotland, was, we believe, 

 a large one, and the return of other grain was apparently in 

 excess of 1857, judging from the extent of the shipments made 

 from time to time to the south. For the most part the barley 

 and oats have arrived in first-rate condition, and, consequently, 

 have commanded the highest prices paid at Mark Lane. This 

 excess ia the supplies, and the large extent of the potato crop, 

 have, of course, had considerable influence in the trade throu;;h- 

 out England, as well as throughout the United Kingdom, and 

 it has, in a great measure, tended to counteract the influence 

 which the high prices in the United States would have had 

 upon our quotations. 



Compared with several previous months, the grain trade in 

 Ireland has exhibited more firmness. In prices, however, no 

 quotable improvement can be noticed. The exports have been 

 on a limited scale, not only to London, but likewise to Liver- 

 pool; but the imports from the westward have continued 

 seasonably large. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING 

 THE PAST MONTH. 



In a comparative sense, the supplies of beasts on sale in the 

 Metropolitan market, since we last wrote, have been on a very 

 moderate scale, and in but middling condition. During the 

 first three weeks of the month, the demand for all breeds was 

 active, at enhanced quotations ; but during the last week, 

 owing to large arrivals of meat up to Newgate and Leadenhall, 

 both from Scotland and various parts of England, the trade 

 became much less active, and prices had a drooping tendency. 

 The arrivals of sheep may be considered tolerably good, but 

 by no means extensive; and the mutton trade has been de- 

 cidedly active, at high currencies, some of the best old Downs 

 in the wool having realizsd 63, per 8 lbs. On the 28th of the 

 month, however, the quotations gave way 2d. to 4d. per 8 Ibs.^ 

 and the demand was decidedly heavy. The transactions in 

 lambs have been only to a moderate extent, and prices have 

 ranged from 5s. 8d. to 7s. per 8 lbs. Calves and pigs have 

 met an improved request. 



Complaints have reached us from various quarters in refer- 

 ence to the scarcity of both beasts and sheep, even in the best 

 localities. We believe, however, that the deficiency in the 

 supplies has been somewhat overstated, although we may safely 

 conclude that we shall not see meat much cheaper than it now 

 is for a considerable period. The question which at no remote 

 day will occupy the attention of most parties will be, What, 

 in reality, has produced the so-much-coraplained-cf scarcity ? 

 in other words, is it the result of extensive and injudicious 

 crossing — the wholesale slaughtering of young animals— or 

 the immense consumption ? The destruction of young stock 

 we believe to be the principal cause of the comparative 

 scarcity, because, as yet, we see no reason to suppose other- 

 wise than that crossing has produced an increased quantity of 

 meat ; and we may further observe— looking to the actual 

 supplies disposed of — that consumption does not appear to be 

 on so large a scale as is somewhat generally supposed. Of 

 one thing we may rest assured, viz., that very high prices will 

 check the demand for butcher's meat, and that all who are 

 now buying store animals at those quotations have the pros- 



pect of a loss before them. True, we cannot expect to receive 

 large supplies of cither beasts or sheep from the Continent, 

 and, as regards the latter from Germany, via Hambro', their 

 weight is too small to give any effect to the trade. 



The Norfolk beasts received into London have not equalled 

 some former seasons, either as regards number or quality ; in- 

 deed, this year much disappointment has been expressed by 

 the buyers in this respect. No doubt the long drought during 

 the summer last year materially interfered with the fattening 

 properties of each kind of etock. Those from Scotland, how- 

 ever, have come to baud in first-rate condition ; and amongst 

 the supplies we have noticed some excellent crosses from 

 Morayshire, into which part of the country the shorthorns 

 have been largely introduced. The health of the ttock has 

 continued food, and very few losses have been sustained by 

 disease. We may observe, however, that abont 200 beasts 

 received from Holland have been seized by the Customs 

 authorities, and condemned as unfit for human consumption. 



The importations into London during the month have been 

 as follows : — 



Beasts , 

 Sheep , 

 Calves 



Total. 



Same time in 1858 . 

 1857 , 

 1856 , 

 1855, 

 1854 , 

 1853 

 1852 , 



1,304 head. 



8,860 „ 



384 „ 



10,548 „ 



1,511 „ 



5,419 „ 



1,842 „ 



2,103 „ 



8,409 „ 



10,884 „ 



6,747 „ 



The total supplies exhibited in the Metropolitan Market 

 ave been — 



Beasts 16,810 head. 



Cows 612 „ 



Sheep and lambs 94,775 „ 



Calves 695 „ 



2,8 



Comparison of Supplies. 

 March. Beasts. Cows. Sheep. Calves. Pigs. 



1858 17,821 476 74,410 704 1,915 



1857 17,345 490 74,880 1,118 2,230 



1856 22,623 470 100,700 797 2,140 



1855 18,644 380 88,790 835 2,765 



1854 20,588 532 93,060 1,091 2,780 



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

 Cambridgeshire have amounted to 10,460 Scots, shorthorns, 

 and crosses ; from other parts of England, 3,200 of various 

 breeds; from Scotland, 1,824 Scots and crosses; and from 

 Ireland, 300 oxen, &c. 



The general range in prices has been as under — 

 s. d. s. d. 



Beef from 3 6 to 5 2 



Mutton 4 — 60 



Lamb 5 8 — 7 



Veal 3 10 — 5 8 



Pork 3 4 — 4 4 



Comparison of Prices. 



Mar., 1856. Mar, 1857. Mar., 1858. 



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



Beef ..from 2 10 to 4 10 ..3 4 to 6 0..2 10to4 6 



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



Veal 4 10 — 6 0..4 4—5 8. .4 — 5 2 



Pork 3 4 — 4 8. ,3 6 — 5 2. .3 — 4 4 



The aggregate supplies of meat exhibited in Newgate and 

 Leadenhall have been only moderate ; and the trade generally 

 may be considered steady, at prices slightly in advance of the 

 previous month. 



B B 2 



