THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



549 



saliitftt^ check to precocious aud over-luxuriant growth, 

 this crisis, nevertheless, the unsettled state of affairs on 



At 

 this cnsis, nevertheless, the unsettled state of affairs on the 

 Coutineut, and the possibility of our being plunged in war 

 created extraordinary excitement in the corn trade ; thus the 

 condition of the future crop became more than usually a sub- 

 ject of observation. Towards the close of the month we ex- 

 perienced rough winds with rain, accompanied by a somewhat 

 cool temperature, which, without being forcing, was suflicieutly 

 favourable to vegetation, wheu improvements became manifest. 

 Dry aud cold weather inaugurated the present month, whereby 

 the anticipated progress usual at that period was not realized, 

 premising, however, that no unfavourable symptoms appeared 

 among the growing crops. On the evening of the 17th there 

 were some light showers, and on the following afternoon there 

 was a copious fall of mild rain, which came very acceptably, 

 though we have to-day a cool drying wind from the north-east. 

 The changes which have taken place from time to time in the 

 appearance of the crops, subservient in all cases to the changes 

 of the weather, are thus explained. The remarks are the more 

 necessary, from the fact of these commuuications being com- 

 monly introduced in the columns of provincial journals which 

 are not published till the Saturday after they appear in this 

 paper, consequently they are not read till nine or ten days have 

 elapsed, during which period many important changes often 

 take place. Having thus disposed of the past, we will pro- 

 ceed with the present aspect of affairs. Premising that the 

 wheat plant on cold soils and iu exposed situations had 

 assumed a yellow cast, the rains which fell during some of the 

 latter days iu April, and especially on the 7th of May, have iu 

 most cases restored it, so that the general aspects are quite 

 satisfactory aud encouraging. With a succession of fine wea- 

 ther there is good reason to hope that the produce will equal, 

 if it does not exceed, the abundance of last year's harvest. 

 Barley, oats, and beans look flourishing. The pasture lands 

 have not made that rapid progress they at one time gave pro- 

 mise to do, from the causes already named, though there is no 

 cause for complaint. After the rain that fell on Wednesday 

 the grass cannot fail to be very abundant. We have been 

 much gratified by the result of an experiment made to test 

 the value of crushed bones^ on grass land, in juxta-position 

 with guano, over which the former present an immense supe- 

 riority. In this district the bone as a manure has only recently 

 been introduced ; but in the cheese-producing county of Ches- 

 ter, this valuable agent has for a length of time been used 

 with great advantage, and equally beneficial results are in store 

 for the dairy farmers in the no less celebrated vale of Berkeley, 

 With such excellent opportunities as the seasons have pre- 

 sented, he must be a sluggish farmer who has neglected 

 the opportunities to get his work in a forward state. A con- 

 siderable breadth of mangold has been planted, much of it, as 

 we think, too soon, as that which is put into the ground very 

 easlj, when a forcing summer succeeds, is apt to run up a seed 



stem very prejudicial to the quality of the bulb. The sowing 

 of swedes is progressing. In some of the orchards the pro- 

 mise of fruit has been annihilated by the frosts ; iu others there 

 may be a fair crop, but we caunot at present speak in favour- 

 able terms with any confidence. The combined fair and 

 monthly market, held at Berkeley on the 16th, was well at- 

 tended, and a satisfactory amount of businesa transacted.— 

 May 19. 



ISLE OF ELY. 



It is now raining hard after a week of brilliant sunshine, and 

 strong searching east and north-east winds. The nights have 

 been uniformly cold aud slightly frosty, and vegetation has 

 progressed very tardily ; and until we have a change of wind, 

 and get some genial and life-giving breezes from the south- 

 west, we can scarcely expect luxuriant vegetation. The time 

 of year has now come, however, when we may reasonably ex- 

 pect the advent of spring weather. The wheat plant maintains 

 its vigour, and perhaps has been benefited rather than other- 

 wise by the severity of the weather. A few weeks ago it was 

 growing too rapidly, and was getting full of coarse flag, and 

 consequently was beginning to fall about in all directions, and 

 looked weak and unpromising ; but the cold dry winds of the 

 last fortnight have stiffened and strengthened it considerably, 

 and it is now as magnificent in its appearance as we could well 

 desire to see it. Some of the thinly planted crops on our 

 weakest and poorest fen soils are improving, and with season- 

 able weather may yet produce a fair crop. The oat crop has 

 Buffered most from the cold dry winds and frosty nights, and 

 where infested with wire-worm has lost plant considerably. 

 Unless we get a speedy change, we must inevitably have a 

 very patchy and broken crop, which generally produces a very 

 poor yield. Beans are beginning to run, aud are thickly 

 planted, but have iu thousands of instances, in consequence of 

 the frost, lost the eye, and must make a fresh lead before they 

 can run. How far thia may affect the crop, we venture not 

 thus early in the season to predict. Most of our Fen farmers 

 have sown their mangolds, and those first planted are just be- 

 ginning to show themselves, and look unusually strong and 

 healthy. This is an invaluable crop, and is becoming much 

 more extensively cultivated. Grass keeping has become more 

 scarce than it was a month ago, and where stocked at all 

 heavily has wasted faut. It now wants a thoroughly good rain 

 with warm nights. The clovers for mowing are very little 

 forwarder than they were six weeks ago. The price of both 

 lean and fat stock has been lower, and sales have been very 

 slowly -ffected. The corn trade has manifested great unsteadi- 

 ness, advancing 10s. per qr. one week, receding from 6s. to Sa. 

 the next, and again advancing, Ss. to 4a. the next. We can 

 scarcely expect steady prices again, so long as the war in 

 Europe is continued.— May 17. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c. 



BUNGAY FAIR exhibited a very large show of store 

 beasts, comprising shorthorns, Scotch, Irish, aud Dutch, but 

 the trade was very dull, and a large proportion was unsold. 

 Of fat beasts there was also a very superior show, both in quan- 

 tity and quality ; at the earlier part of the day the trade was 

 vary flat, being without doubt affected by the duiness of the 

 London market on the Friday, but as the day advanced, trade 

 became brisker, and a fair amount of business was transacted 

 at from 7s. to 73. 6d. per stone, very superior Ss., good store 

 pigs 25s. to 303. per head, fat pork 6s. to Gs. 3d. per stone. 

 There were a few good horses, but prices being high, but little 

 business was doue. 



ELGIN MARKET.— There was a very large attendance, 

 chiefly of grazing animals. Prices were rather stiff, but, not- 

 withstanding, a great number changed hands at rates rather 

 under those of last market. The following are a few of the 

 sales, viz. : Mr. Mitchell, Wester Alves, sold a lot of polled 

 three-year-olds at £20, Mr. Leslie, Hillockhead, Rothes, sold a 

 pure shorthorn cow, four-yeara-old, with a calf at her foot, 

 £24 ; Mr. Eddie, Bilboahall, sold a two-year-old stot, superior, 



at £21 ; Mr. Grant, Whitereath, sold a lot of two-year-olda at 

 £15 5s.; Mr. Eddie sold a lot of three-year-old queys at £17 

 5s., and a lot of two-year-old stots at £13; Mr. Muil, Clack- 

 marras, sold a lot of polled at £10 lOs.; Mr. MUne. Pittensair, 

 sold a lot of two-year-olds, same class, at £2 ; Mr. Brauder, 

 Pittendriech, sold a lot of crosses, two-year-olds, at £15 lOs.; 

 Mr. Grant, dealer, Glenlivat, sold a lot of three-year-old 

 crosses at £16; Mr. Cruickshanks, Rosehaugb, sold a lot of 

 crosses, two-year-olds, at £18 IDs.; the grieve of Altyre sold 

 a lot of two-year-old crosses at £19 lOs. ; Mr. Stephen, Lich- 

 broom, sold a lot of crosses, three-year-olds, at £21 15s.; 

 Mr. Leitch, Inchstellie, sold a lot of two-year-old crosses at 

 £18. — Elr/in Courant. 



FORRES MARKET.— A very limited show of beasts, and 

 these were mostly grazing, and for which the demand was very 

 good by farmers and local graziers. The j'oung cattle espe- 

 cially were fetching high prices. One-year-olds, of but mid- 

 dling quality, £7, two-year-olds £10 to £16. 



GRANTOWN TRYST. — A fair attendance, and the 

 greater part of both aheep and cattle' were aold. The pricea 



