78 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



2,300 Shorthorns; from Devonshire, 800 Devons; 

 from other parts of England, 1,000 various breeds; 

 from Scotland, 700 Scots and Crosses ; and from Ire- 

 land, 350 Oxen, &c. 



There was a moderate show of Sheep. The best 

 breeds moved off steadily, and in some instances prices 

 had an upward tendency, a few very fine Downs having 

 sold at 6s. per 81bs., otherwise the Mutton trade was 

 inactive, but at full prices. 



There were a few Lambs on show, but in very poor 

 condition. 



We were fairly supplied with Calves. Prime Veal 

 was rather dearer, otherwise the trade was rather 

 heavy. 



The demand for Pigs was steady, and in some in- 

 stances prices were a shade higher. 



The total imports of foreign stock into London last 

 week amounted to 4,525 head. In the corresponding 

 period in 1859 we received 4,364 j in 1858, 5,734 ; iu 

 1857, 1,896; in 1856, 1,895; in 1855,- 4,326; and 

 In 1854, 2,828 head. 



IMPORTS INTO LONDON LAST WEEK. 



SHEEP. LAMBS. CALVES. PICI. 



PROil WHENCE. BEASTS 



Amsterdam 29 



Antwerp ........ — — 



Hambro' 14 S02 



Harlingen 123 39 



Medemblik 28 569 



NieuDiep 25 772 



Rotterdam 220 2020 



Tonaing 60 -r- 



— 28 



— 9 



Total 



499 3702 — 



218 



255 



59 



59 



YEARLY COMPARISON OF WEEKLY IMPORTS, 



PRICES THIS DAY. 

 Per 81bs., to sink the offal. 



d. 



to 3 8 







5 2 



Coarae and inferior Beasts 3 4 to 3 



Second quality ditto 3 10 4 



Prime large Oxen 4 6 5 



PrimeScot8,&c 5 2 5 



Coarse aud inferior Sheep 3 8 3 



Second quality ditto 4 4 



Prime coarse-wooUed ditto 4 10 5 



Prime Southdownditto 5 6 5 



Large coarse Calves 4 4 



Prime small ditto 4 8 5 



Large Hogs 4 4 



Neat small Porkers 4 8 



Suckling Calves, 183. to 233.; and Quarter-old store Pigs, 

 23s. to 303. each. 



HEAD OF CATTLE ON SALE TO-DAY. 



[from the books of the clerk of the market.] 



total supplies. i foreign supplies. 



Beasts 7,860 Beasts , 865 



Sheep 19,550 Sheep 5,100 



Calve 210 Calves 160 



Pigs 515|Pig8 — 



HEAD OP CATTLE ON SALE LAST THURSDAY. 



total SUPPLIES. I FOREIGN SUPPLIES. 



Beasts 1,560 Beasts 400 



Cowa . 

 Sheep , 



Calves. 



Pigs. . . 



150 



3,500 



280 



320 



Cows . 

 Sheep , 

 Calves. 

 Pi?a . 



800 

 160 



Comparison of the Great Days. 



Per Slba. to sink the offal 

 Dec. 12, 1859. 

 s. d. 8. d. 

 Coarse aud inferior Beasts 3 6 to 3 10 ., 



Second quality do 4 



Prime large oxen 4 



Prime Scots, &c 5 



Coarse and inferior Sheep 3 



Second quality do 4 



Prime coarse-woolled do. 4 

 Prime Southdown do. .. 5 

 Large coarse Calves .. .. 4 

 Prime small do 



Dec, 17, 1860. 



B. d. 8. d. 



.3 4 to 3 8 



, 3 10 4 4 



5 0.. 



5 4 .. 



3 10 .. 



4 4.. 

 4 8.. 



4 .. 



2 



4 







6 







2 

 10 



Large Hogs 3 6 



Neat small Porkers .. .. 4 



Supplies on Sale Dec. 12,1859. 



Beasts 7.560 



Sheep 24,420 



Calves...., 160 



Pigs 430 



5 



4 8 ... 



5 2 .. 

 3 10 .., 

 5 .. 



4 6 



5 2 



3 8 



4 



4 10 



5 6 







5 

 5 4 



3 10 



4 8 



5 4 

 5 10 



4 6 



5 



4 6 



5 2 



Dec. 17, I860. 

 7,860 

 19,550 

 210 



155 



EXTRAORDINARY NOTICE.— In the Great Smitbfield 

 Market, the largest ever known, there were seven thousand 

 eight hundred beasts placed ; but yet, more remarkable, there 

 were eight thousand eight hundred " bespoken," a thouaahd 

 more than the actual number for sale. This announcement 

 at first absolutely paralyzed the trade, snd the practice, a 

 bad one, requires looking into by the market authorities. 



LADY CHESTERFIELD'S PIGS. 



Sir, — For the last four years the Couuteas of Chesterfield, 

 Bretby Park, Burton-on-Trent, has exhibited pigs at the Bir- 

 min;;ham Cattle Show, and each year taken prizes. This year 

 her ladyship decided to show the piga exhibited at Birming- 

 ham also at the London Smithfield Exhibition, and they were 

 entered accordingly. On their arrival at Birmingham they 

 were examined aa to age, &e., by Professor Simonds and Mr. 

 Hunt ; after which they gained the first prize in their class. 

 The day following the Birmingham Show they were taken to 

 London, and again examined as to age, &c., by the same Pro- 

 fessor Simonds, and he there stated that one [of the pigs was 

 younger than the other two, and that consequently they could 

 not compete for the prizes, although the judges had selected 

 them for one of the prize pens. 



Having had the management of my Lady Chesterfield's 

 farm, I think it my duty to state that the pigs in question were 

 bred on the farm, and there were no other pigs within months 

 of their age. The foreman keeps a book, wherein he enters the 

 birth of the animals, and from this book I enter them for the 

 shows; and I am prepared to prove— upon oath, if required 

 — that the pigs exhibited were all of one litter, aud their ages 

 properly described in the certificates for entries, 



I have had much experience during the last 25 years in 

 breediug, rearing, and fattening of cattle, sheep, and pigs ; 

 and my opinion is that the examination of the mouths of 

 animals is not a safe teat as to their age. By being highly 

 fed when young they will very frequently change their teeth, 

 much sooner than when kept in an ordinary way ; and I will 

 venture to observe, that although I think it necessary animals 

 should be subjected to certain examinations, when competing 

 at cattle shows, I think no peraons ate so competent for this 

 as the gentlemen selected as stewards and judges of the 

 shows, who are meu of much experience, integritj', and 

 ability.— I am, Sir, &c., 



John Faulkner, 

 Agent to the Earl of Chesterfield. 



Bretly Farm, Dec. 15, 1860. 



[We may add, merely to show the consistency of Mr. 

 Simonds' conduct, that he objected to these pigs at Birming- 

 ham, but that the Council there did not act upon his advice,— 

 Ed. F,M.} 



