456 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



its introduction here would be productive of the most disas- 

 trous consef]uence3 to the interests of our breeders and feeders. 

 Both in Ireland and Scotland the wheat trade has assumed 

 more firmness, and prices have steadily advanced. Barley and 

 oats of fine quality have changed hands steadily, at extreme 

 rates, but other articles have met a dull inquiry. The ship- 

 ments of produce from Ireland have continued on a very mode- 

 rate scale ; but those from Scotland have been liberal. This 

 latter fact tends to confirm the impression, pretty general in 

 some quarters, that rather large quantities of graiu are still in 

 stack in the Lothians. Unless we are greatly misinformed, 

 however, the supplies on hand in Ireland are very moderate for 

 the time of year, even though steady importations have been 

 reported during several months past from the westward. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE 

 PAST MONTH. 



In the early part of the month, only limited supplies of 

 beasts and moderate numbers of sheep were on offer in the 

 Great Metropolitan Cattle Market. The demand for all 

 breeds, therefore, ruled somewhat active, and prices were 

 steadily on the advance. On the 25th, however, owing to 

 increased arrivals, and to an improvement in the general 

 weight and condition of the stock, especially from Norfolk, 

 the trade became heavy, and the quotations gave way 2d. to 

 4d. per 81bs. The lamb trade has been in a depressed state, 

 at comparatively low figures ; indeed, we seldom recollect a 

 ■worse demand for lamb than oa Good Fridaj-, a day generally 

 looked forward to as producing the highest value for lambs 

 during the whole of the season. Hitherto, the lambs have 

 come to hand in good condition, and the fall in most parts 

 of England appears to have been a full average one. 



The continued high value of skins, hides, and tallow in 

 the provinces, has led to full average supplies of country- 

 killed meat being received up to Newgate and Leadenhall ; 

 nevertheless, sales have progressed steadily, and fair quota- 

 tions have been realized. 



Some wonderfully fine bullock-crosses have appeared in 

 London, viz., Scots crossed with Shorthorns. Many of the 

 heifers have weighed fully 115 stones, and most of them 

 were forwarded from Aberdeen and Morayshire. Here we 

 may remark that very few really pure Scots now make their 

 appearance in London either from Scotland or Norfolk ; but 

 though the new system of crossing has turned out remark- 

 ably well, and though the first crosses have produced some 

 very fine animals, it may be well doubted whether what i* 

 termed the " in and in" system is either a safe or profitable 

 one to the graziers. 



The health of the stock in our leading counties has con- 

 tinued remarkably good. The losses from disease have not 

 increased, and the supplies of winter food have not yet been 

 exhausted. 



From abroad, the imports of beasts have been very mode- 

 rate ; of sheep, tolerably extensive ; but most of the latter 

 have been composed of merinoes of very light weight, pro- 

 duced in Germany. The arrival of calves has fallen off, 

 when compared with some former years, and, taken collec- 

 tively, the general quality of the supplies has declined. 

 The following numbers have been reported into London : — 



Beasts 742 head. 



Sheep 7,748 „ 



Lambs 9 ,, 



Calves 385 „ 



Pigs 4 „ 



Total. 



8,888 



Same time in 1858 5,998hea 



1857 4,814 „ 



1856 1,924 „ 



„ ] 855 4,253 „ 



1854 4,760 „ 



1853 14,787 „ 



„ 1852 5,444 „ 



The total supplies of home-fed and foreign stock exhi- 

 bited in the Metropolitan Market have been as under : — 



Beasts 16,850 head. 



Cows 390 „ 



Sheep and lambs 110,114 „ 



Calves 420 „ 



Pigs 1,990 „ 



Comparison of Supplies. 

 April. Beasts. Cows. Sheep & Lambs. Calves. Pigs. 

 1858.... 17,950 400 104,380 1,332 2,097 



1857.... 18,601 460 92,810 1,240 2,025 



In the month just concluded, 11,400 Scots, Shorthornb» 

 and Crosses came to hand from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and 

 Cambridgeshire ; 1 ,270 various breeds from other parts of 

 England ; 1,280 Scots and Crosses from Scotland; and 430 

 oxen and heifers from Ireland. 



Beef has sold at from Bs. 4d. to 5s. 2d. ; mutton, in the 

 wool, 3s. lOd. to 6s.; lamb, 5s. 4d. to 7s. ; veal, 3s. lOd.to 

 5s. 8d. ; and pork, 3s. to 48- 2d. per 81bs. to sink the offal. 



Comparison of Prices. 



Apr., 1856. Apr, 1857. Apr., 1858. 



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



Beef ..from 3 2to4 10..3 4 to 5 0,.2 10to4 2 



Mutton ., 3 6 — 5 8. .4 6 — 6 2.. 3 — 5 



Lamb.,,. 6 — 7 4..5 10 — 7 4. .6 — 7 



Veal 4 — 5 8. .3 8 — 5 10. .4 — 5 4 



Pork 3 6 — 4 8. .3 8 — 5 0.,3 — 4 4 



Judging from the advices which have come to hand from 

 Holland, only moderate supplies of stock can be expected to 

 arrive from that country during the next three or four 

 months ; but we may look forward to steady imports of 

 sheep from Germany during that period, as the numbers on 

 hand appear to have considerably increased of late. The 

 sheep from Germany, however, require crossing with English 

 breeds, to make them profitable to the shippers. At present, 

 the profit upon each head, after the payment of expenses, 

 must be very small ; and this will be apparent when we 

 state that the German sheep are worth only from about 20s. 

 to 27s. per head in our markets. With a fair outlay for 

 breeding stock, Germany is able to produce much better 

 sheep than those which we have received since the passing 

 of the new Tariff, and which, in point of fact, have undergone 

 little or no change, either in point of weight, general condi- 

 tion, or quality. 



Newgate and Leadenhall have been tolerably well, but 

 not to say extensivelj', supplied with each kind of meat ; 

 and, on the whole, the demand generally may be considered 

 healthy. Beef has sold at from 3s. 4d. to 4s. 8d, ; mutton, 

 3s. 6d. to 4s. lOd.; lamb, 4s, 4d. to 6s, 4d. ; veal, 4s. 2d. to 

 5s. 4d, ; pork, 3s. 2d. to 4s. 2d. per 81bs. by the carcase. 



WEALD OF KENT. 



The first quarter of the present year was all that could be 

 desired for the progress of farming operations. The wheat 

 plant is looking well for the most 'part. The breadth of 

 spring corii sown is beyond an average, owing principally to 

 the low price of wheat. Grass and seeds grow but slowly, 

 being impeded by the frosty nights. Stock of all kinds is in 

 fair condition ; fat stock is dear. Sheep realize high 

 figures. The fall of lambs, " which is nearh- over," has 

 been attended with success, but with fewer couples than last 

 year. The corn mai-ket, till within the last week or two, 

 has been very inactive, and prices have not been remunera- 

 tive for wheat. A large county meeting was held on Penen- 

 den Heath on Thursday last, which was numerously 

 attended, with a view of obtaining the remission of the in- 



