548 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



to 1b. 2d.; handwashed, la. Hd, to la. 9d. ; and scoured 

 Is. lOd. to 23. 6d. per lb. 



The backward state of the bine, and the appearance of fly 

 in mo3t plantations, have produced some excitement iu the 

 demand for hops, and a steady improvement in the quotations. 

 The show of samples has been only moderate, and fine East Kent 

 pockets have sold at 160s. per cwt. Scarcely any foreign hops 

 have reached us ; but we apprehend that the present advanced 

 rates will induce steady shipments to this country. 



Owing to a great falling off in the supplies, potatoes have 

 been in somewhat active request, and an important advance 

 has taken place in prices, ISOs. to 2008. per ton having been 

 paid for very fine samples. Considering the extent of the 

 consumption during the past winter, and the enormous ar- 

 rivals, it is quite clear that last year's crop was a very large 

 one as to quantity. The quality of the growth has turned out 

 good. The live stock trade has continued steady, though 

 somewhat less active than in the previous month. Prices, 

 almost generally, have ruled tolerably high. 



In Scotland the grain trade, influenced by the state of the 

 demand at Mark-lane, has been tolerably active, and prices 

 have steadily improved. The stocks of produce in the hands 

 of the growers are fully equal to most former seasons, and 

 good shipments have been made to the south. 



Throughout Ireland there has been less activity in the de- 

 mand for wheat and other kinds of corn than in England. 

 However, the quotations have improved, and the markets have 

 been in what may be termed a healthy state. 



EEVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE 

 PAST MONTH. 

 The increased stringency of the Customs' authorities iu re- 

 ference to the admission of live stock into this country — in 

 other words, the severe inspection of the stock, to ascertain 

 whether it has brought disease with it— has resulted iu a con- 

 siderable falling off in the arrival of beasts from the Continent ; 

 but the importations of sheep have been on an extensive scale. 

 The latter arrivals, however, have been principally composed 

 of stock from Germany, shipped by way of Hamburg. These 

 sheep are of poor quality, and seldom worth more than from 

 21 8. to 27s. each ; consequently very little addition has been 

 made to the actual supply of food from abroad. Our letters 

 from Holland state that both beasts and sheep are in anything 

 but a healthy state. Disease in the ' hoof is very common 

 amongst the beasts, and rot has made its appearance amongst 

 the sheep. We therefore anticipate only moderate importa- 

 tions from that portion of the Continent during the present 

 year, more especially as the Customs will not allow stock to 

 pass for consumption in any way affected with disease. A 

 great outcry has been raised in certain quarters against the 

 new system; but surely it is the duty of those placed iu re- 

 sponsible positions to prevent the introduction of disease into 

 the country. We have enough of it already here ; indeed, at 

 least one-third of the beasts exhibited in the metropolitan 

 cattle market during the mouth have been suffering more or 

 less from disease, either in the chest or hoofs. However it is 

 satisfactory to learn that very few fatal cases have presented 

 themselves for some time past. The supply of winter food is 

 now nearly exhausted, and an iucreased supply of grass in the 

 pastures is now much required by our graziers. As yet, how- 

 ever, it has been small; but since the late fine showers of 

 rain have fallen, there is an improved prospect of a full ave- 

 rage hay crop. The demand for both beasts and sheep in our 

 leading cattle markets has been less active than in the previous 

 montb,and,in seme instances, prices have ruled a shade lower. 



However, the trade, generally, may be considered iu a healthy 



state, and the consumption of meat appears to be quite equal 



to moat previous seasons. 



The annexed return shows the total imports of foreign 



stock into London during the month : 



Beasts 856 head. 



Sheep 8,919 „ 



Lambs 278 „ 



Calves 639 „ 



Pigs 26 „ 



Total 



Same time in 1858 , 

 1857 . 

 1856 

 1855, 

 1854 , 

 1853 , 

 1852 , 



The total supplies of home and foreign stock exhibited 

 in the Metropolitan Market have been as under :— 



Beasts 17,980 head. 



Cows , 482 „ 



Sheep and lambs 113,512 „ 



Calves 1,012 „ 



Pigs 2,260 „ 



COMPAKISON OF SUPPLIES. 



Last month, 11,300 Scots, shorthorns, and crosses arrived 

 from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire ; 1,720 

 of various breeds from other parts of England ; 2,000 Siiots 

 and crosses from Scotland ; and 464 oxen and heifers from 

 Ireland. 



Beef has sold at from Ss. 4d. to 4s. lOd. ; mutton, Ss. 

 6d. to 5s. ; Iamb, 5s. 4d. to 6s. 4d. ; veal, 4s. to 5s. 6d.; 

 pork, 3s. 2d. to 4s. 2d. per 81bs., to sink the offal. 

 Comparison of Prices. 



Up to Newgate and Leadenhall Markets, the arrivals af 

 Scotch and country-killed meat have been on a full average 

 scale for the time of year. On the whole, a steady busineqg 

 has been transacted, as follows : Beef, from 3s. 2d. to 4s. 

 4d. ; mutton, 3s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. ; lamb, 4s. 4d, to 48. 6d. ; 

 veal, 4s. to 4s. 8d. ; pork, 3s. 2d. to 48. 2d. per 81bs., by the 

 carcase. 



WEST GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 

 Since writing the last Communication numerous changes in 

 the weather have taken place, and to such an extent as to 

 claim especial notice ; the more so, because it has occurred at 

 a season of the year when their results are watched with in- 

 tense interest. Immediately preceding the time when it was 

 written (April 14th), a temperature unusually warm, succeeded 

 by a considerable quantity of rain, caused all the productions 

 of the vegetable world to assume a promising appearance, indi- 

 cative of early maturity. A great change, however, followed ; 

 on the 16th, aud on the four following days, hail storms, with 

 sleet, northerly winds, aud other winterly aspects, accompanied 

 by frosty nights, very materially checked the progress of vege- 

 tation, causing the wheat in many places to change colour, 

 and the vigorous appearance which had previously existed 

 waued away with ominous forewamings, enough so to create 

 alarm in over-sensitive minds. The early spring sown crops of 

 barley, oats, and beans suffered in appearance from the same 

 causes as the wheat. But as relates to the latter, it waa a 



