THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



91 



are pretty well up, but such has been the soaked state of 

 the land every process has been hindered, and this also ap- 

 plies to thrashing. For the last two weeks hardly anything 

 has been done out of door, and the quantity brought to 

 market has been diminished greatly in consequence ; prices 

 have crept up from 7s. to 7s. M. per GOlbs., and 7s. Od. for 

 new whites, which could not be had under Ss. for prime, 

 but at one time the condition was extremely bad and it is 

 not now much improved, but if we have a thaw it will be as 

 bad as ever for a time at least. Barley has come rather 

 freely to market, and the prices have gone down to 4s. and 

 4s. 3d., grinding and iiialting 4s. 9d. to 5s. 3d., extra 

 higher. New beans, if dry, are worth 5s. 6d. to 5s. 7^d., bat 

 we have very few as yet out cf the farmer's hands. Oats 

 21s, to 24s. for 34 to 381bs. per qr. Our Christmas market 

 has bffd soma good stock, but the prices have been com- 

 plained of, and the sale said to be dull, a good many not 

 being up to the mark for the season could not find buyers. 

 Good Down wethers have sold pretty well, but ewe mutton 

 has been very irregular in price, from 4d. to 6d. per lb. Pigs 

 have kept up to lOs., and do not appear to be over plentiful, 

 corn for fattening being higher than for some time past. 

 There has been more sale for good barreners, but out of 

 condition and old cows ruinously low to the seller. Sheep 

 if warranted would have sold better, but very severe losses 

 have been sustained by many parties. Butter is very high, 

 15d. to lOd. per lb., and cheese without being a great sale 

 is firm. A good deal of hay from the higli floods have been 

 destroyed, not having had sufficiently dry weather to remove 

 it. It is evident that our outfalls are in a very bad condition, 

 but such is the indifference of those most interested that 

 they are annually losing 5s. to 10s. per acre for want of an 

 outlay ot 2s. to os. Some attention is now being paid to 

 this subject in other parts of the kingdom, but we who have 

 a greater stake than most are even more neglectful than we 

 were fifty years since, and our outfalls are confessedly get- 

 ting worse every year. When will our landowners and 

 occupiers know what they lose from want of a better 

 managed drainage ?— 12 Month 21. 



SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE. 



Thanks to greatly improved drainage, we have not suffered 

 so much iu this district from the exceasive rains of the past 

 season as in aooie former years, but still the lands are wofuUy 

 wet, and farm-work ia very backward. Just now we are 

 quite fast, as the majority cf lands are so sosked as to be in- 

 capable of fair work. Much wheat hjs yet to be got in, aad 

 that already sown does not manifest a promising plant— iu 

 many places patchy and thin. The stoppage is not to be re- 

 gretted, aa in ail probability a later aeedmg will be racre 

 advantageous. It cannot grow prosperously ou lanils so wet 

 and cold, and aa mildew weather approaches, the seeding should 

 be proceeded vith as opportunity serves. This uatowardne's 

 of the season appears to have au effect on the corn trade ; it 

 has rallied considerably, and if the yield and weight combmed 

 are taken into account, it must advance much higher yet. 

 We seldom hear of a crop of wheat giving 621b8. per bush.; 

 the general runs do not exceed 551bs., and many crops do 

 not reach 50Ibs. per bushel; end the proportion of 

 meal given is still lower, the quantity of offal being 

 greatly in excess. If our transatlantic brethren could 

 not liberally supply us, the prospect would soon be very 

 alarming. We have yet a few crops unharvested ; I 

 yesterday saw a rather large field of oats in atook. Beans 

 are nearlj' all stacked. Potatoes are all up, but the diseased 

 ones keep badly, and are so tainted that pigs will not eat them 

 freely. The supply of these animals baa greatly increased, 

 and their value depreciated. "The shack" — i.e., stubble- 

 keeping — has nearly all been thrown away upon them. Good 

 strong pigs are readily selling at from 203. to 25s. each (worth 

 as much in July last) ; good stores for fatting keep their price. 

 The loss of the potato crop, and the inferior quality of the 

 barley, have had much to do with this serious loss to pig- 

 breeding. Very many are now fatting upon inferior wheat, 

 partially grown. This is mixed with barley, and ground into 

 meal, upon v/bich they do exceedingly well. The supply of 

 fresh pork must be good for some time to come. We have 

 very little beef and still less mutton left in the district : nearly 

 all has been sent to our Christmas markets. Winter ' 3eping 



is holding out well, and we have a fair quantity left, but the 

 quality is inferior; Sheep are progressing satisfactorily— the 

 casualties not great. Our grass land rather wet and soft, but 

 we have a tolerable pasture yet, and the sheep are doing well 

 without further aid. We are under some apprehensions rela- 

 tive to the welfare of our labouring population. Hitherto we 

 have had abundance of work ; now no one knows what to 

 proceed with, and many poor men are without employment, 

 it is certainly an anomalous state of things. The price of 

 meat is high. The price of bread is not iu accordance with 

 the price of wheat, owing to the great proportion of offal ; 

 hence our people suffer greatly. The farmer does not obtain 

 a remunerative price per acre ; be does with as little labour 

 Hi possible; oo that, with high prices of food, and very little 

 work, our labouring population will soon be in a bad case. It 

 is not that cur fields are in such good plight that no labour is 

 required — no; we never had a greater proof of the value of 

 under-drainage, and much is needed to repair and improve 

 the drains. Our watercourses, too, are wretched aud shallow ; 

 much kbour is needed to place them in good condition ; the 

 season, the weather deters those who have the power end the 

 capital to expend — all wait for a more convenient time. To- 

 day, Dec. 20th, our lands are all covered with suow, and a 

 north-east wind blows coldly, giving us a timely caution to 

 take care of our stock. It speedily tells upon unhoused stock 

 in this locality. Sheep should now have artificial food, and 

 plenty of rcots or grass, or they will soon lose condition. 

 Ewes must be attended to. 



AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, 

 FAIRS, &c. 



BEWDLEY FAIR.— The attendance cf buyers was pretty 

 good, and the quaatity of fat rattle was much greater than 

 usual; many were Scots. Beef realized from 6d. to 7d. 

 prime 7id. per lb. Sheep were very scarce, and so were 

 pi2;s — the latter slightly oa the decline. Mutton brought 7d. 

 to^7id. 



CORNHILL MONTHLY MARKET.— Some very fine 

 lots of fat cattle were offered ; but the prices not being quite 

 so high as at former markets, a good many were turned out 

 unsold. Young stirks in fair condition sold well. Milk cows, 

 or those expected to calve early, were scarce, and ia great de- 

 mand. These brought long prices. One-year-olds, coming 

 two, sold at from 81. to 14^.; milk cows from 21. to ]5Z. 



DROirWITCH. FAIR.— The supply was limited, and 

 business flat. Beef realized from 6Jd. to 7d., and mutton 6|^d. 

 to 7id. perlb. 



GRANTHAM FAIR.— A short supply of sheep, and of 

 inferior quality, very little trade being done. A pretty good 

 show of fat beasts, which realized high prices. Good three- 

 year-old steers much in demand. Small steers and young 

 beasts a slow trade. Beef averaged 78. 9i!. to Qs. per stone; 

 mutton 7d. to VJd. per lb. Pigs were a slow trade. 



LEDBURY FAIR.— There was an average supply of fat 

 and store stock. Some prime fat cattle were offered, and the 

 fair was in most respects equal to former Christmas fairs. Fat 

 stock met with a tolerably quick sale to dealers, of whom there 

 were a good number in attendance. Leau cattle were not 

 numerous, and not much in request. A very limited number 

 of sheep, among which were about 150 fat ones, which were 

 speedily disposed of, but store stock was not much inquired 

 after. But a few fat pigs, for which high prices were asked 

 and obtained, and a good number of stores, many of which 

 were unsold. Beef 7d. and 7id., and for superior beasts 8d. ; 

 sheep 7d. to 7|d. 



NEWTON I\IABKET.— There was a very sm«ll supply 

 of bullocks, the best of which sold [at 623. per cwt. Sheep 

 were a moderate supply, and fetched 6^d. per lb., butchers' 

 calves 7d. per lb. ; pork carcases lis. per score. 



OSWESTRY FAIR.— The quality of stock shown was 

 first-rate, which soon found buyers. Beef made from 6Jd to 

 7 Jd per lb. The sheep and pigs also sold well. Fat pigs S^d. 

 to 6d., beef 6|d. to Z^d., mutton G^d. to 7id. per lb. 



PAISLEY HORSE MARKET.— There was a very brisk 

 demand for first-class draught horses, and many were disposed 

 of at prices ranging from 50 guineas to £57 and £58. One 

 very fine black gelding, bred by Mr. Nelson, Cochrane Mill 

 Farm, Milliken Park, was sold by Mr. Crawford, of John- 



