88 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



wheel out manure to be ready for plots, and as- j Flower Garden. 



paragus beds, and similar purposes. In snows, shake it all off before the sun breaks 



Fruit Department. I out, from evergreens, to prevent scalding and other 



Prune very little, unless the buds protrude very I damage to the foliage. Flowers cannot yet be 

 much : lay dung around the roots of gooseberries, I planted, but the seed may be sown in pots under 

 currants, and raspberries, which will much improve 1 frames, with a mark of each kind Much time and 

 the spring growth ; do the same with fruit trees labour are thus saved, and the propagation of flow- 

 and espaliers. ers is well secured in this way. 



AGllICULTURAL REPORTS 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 DECEMBER. 



During the greater portion of this month, notwithstanding 

 that rather large quantities of rain fell in its early part, the 

 weather has been tolerably favourable for out-door farm 

 labours. They are, however, somewhat backward even in 

 our beat counties, and we regret to learn that the quantity 

 of winter wheat sown, up to this time, is smaller than in the 

 general run of years. Considering the deOcient nature of 

 the new crop, and the poor condition in which it continues 

 on offer, the probable falling off in the production of the 

 heavy wheats next year may be followed by consequences of 

 no ordinary importance to the country generallj'. In the 

 first place, a deficient supply of English wheat in 1861 must 

 lead to heavy shipments of bullion to purchase foreign corn ; 

 and, in the second, the mercantile classes may be suffering 

 from the effects of a high range in the value of money, as the 

 result of a scarcity of unemployed capital. 



There has been an improved feeling in the demand for all 

 descriptions of wheat, at an advance in the quotations, com- 

 pared with the previous month, of from 33. to 4s. per qr. 

 The imports from abroad have continued on a large scale 

 for the time of year ; nevertheless, there has been very little 

 increase in the stocks in warehouse, either in London or at 

 the outports, the demand for inland consumption, owing to 

 the poor condition in which English samples have come to 

 hand, having been unusually active. As regards the future 

 range in the value of wheat, a few observations may be 

 necessary. It is generally admitted that at least a moiety 

 of native wheats are unfit for millers' purposes without a 

 large admixture of foreign produce ; it follows, therefore, that 

 the demand for the latter must continue somewhat active for 

 several months. With this prospect before them, and as corn 

 bills are still somewhat freely discounted by the leading 

 banking firms, it is scarcely possible that forced sales of 

 either red or white parcels will be made by the importing 

 houses. On the contrary-, it is evident to our minds that 

 even greater firmness will prevail, and that prices, as a con- 

 sequence, will continue to harden, more especially as the 

 importations during the remainder of the winter must fall 

 considerably short of recent arrivals. The exports from the 

 Uni'ed States, which, since the 1st September, have ex- 

 ceeded 1,000,000 qrs. of wheat, and nearly 800,000 brls. of 

 flour, have almost wholly ceased ; but, when we consider 

 the present comparatively low freight?, the abundance of 

 grain in the interior of the country, and the favourable turn 

 in prices here, heavy shipments from America in the spring 

 may, we think, be calculated upon with safety. France may 

 have very little to spare for us ; but from other parts of 

 the continent we may anticipate steadj^arrivals in the period 

 here indicated. But will those importations reduce the 

 value of wheat much, if anything, beneath its present level? 

 We think not ; because it is quite clear that they will not 

 be in excess of our actual wants. There has been a steady, 

 though not to say active, demand for spring corn, especially 

 for fine barley and oats, at full quotations, which are likely 

 to be supported for some time. 



Most of our markets have been well supplied with pota- 

 toes, in good saleable condition. The demand for them has 

 ruled steady, and prices have ranged from 80s. to 150s. per 

 ton. The disc.Tse does not appear to have spread itself in 

 the pits, and !«'-.iiland continues (o ship largely, as we 

 anticip'ited. ^V'•■ :.;ay, however, take it for granted that 



prices will rule high during the next three months, as the 

 Continent appears to have very few potatoes to spare for us. 



The supplies of beasts on sale for Christmas consumption 

 have been on a very large scale, and, for the most part, 

 they have appeared in good saleable condition ; neverthe- 

 less, the demand for them has been active, and jirices have 

 ruled high, considering the abundance of really good stock 

 on offer. 



Sheep, calves, and pigs have sold at full currencies ; but 

 the demand for them has been by no means brisk. From 

 all quarters unfavourable accounts have reached us in re- 

 ference to the bad quality of the winter food. Much of 

 the hay is in a musty state, and the usual properties of beet 

 and other root crops have not been fully developed, owing 

 to the want of sufficient warmth in September and October. 

 In proof of the great difference in the value of meadow 

 haj', we may observe that prices now range from £2 to £5 

 8s. per load. 



Since the close of the public sales of colonial wool, the 

 demand for all kinds of wool has been in a most inactive 

 state, and prices have ruled almost nominal. The supply 

 on offer, however, is still very moderate, and the importa- 

 tions continue on a limited scale. During the first eleven 

 months of 1860, the exports of English and Irish wool 

 amounted to 10,997,1811bs., against 8,526,7661bs. in the 

 corresponding period in 1859, and 12,935,7451b8. in 1858. 

 In the same time, the shipments of foreign and colonial 

 wool were 26,8S5,7941bs., 26,051 ,6291bs., and 24,228,005 

 lbs. respectively. 



Notwithstanding the failure in the growth of hops, the 

 demand, arising from heavy importations from abroad, has 

 fallen^oft", and prices have had a drooping tendency. The 

 general quality of the foreign hops on sale is by no means 

 fine. 



There has been a moderate demand for wheat in most of 

 the markets held in Scotland, and prices have been on the 

 advance. Rather large quantities of barley and oats have 

 found buyers for England, and the transactions in other 

 produce have continued on a fair average scale. 



In Ireland, there has been very little movement in the 

 grain trade. Wheat, which for the most part has appeared 

 on sale in fair condition, has commanded rather more money, 

 and other articles have sold steadily on former terms. The 

 exports to England have increased to some extent. Pota- 

 toes have come forward somewhat freely, but their quality 

 has turned out rather inferior when compared to some 

 former vears. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE 

 PAST MONTH. 



The leading feature of the month has been the annual 

 gathering of the Smithfield and other clubs, established for the 

 purpose of increasing our supplies of food, and for the en- 

 couragement of those who have invested their capital in the 

 production of first-class animals for the butcher. Although 

 the past has beeu an unfavourable season, arising from the 

 enormous quantities of rain which have fallen in most parts 

 of the United Kingfdom, the weight and condition of both 

 beasts and sheep exhibited at the leading shows have been 

 quite equal to most former years, even though we have ob- 

 served less fat upon many of the beasts exhibited. 



The various markets have been heavily supplied with stock 



