178 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



complete; and if voluminous in its informatiou, it was 

 equally handy in its arrangement. The ]Dresent editor, 

 who is well up in his suhject, has been careful not to lose 

 sight of the good model the originator of the book set up ; 

 and the turfite, once familiar with " EufT," is satisfied so 

 long as he sees no material change in its disposition. 

 The " winter edition," now just out, has, of course, all 

 those features for which the Guide has ever been famous. 

 The races past and to come ; the performances of two- 

 year-olds ; the laws of racing ; the lengths of courses ; 

 Derby lots; a list of trainers; and that vei-y useful com- 

 pendium, the winners of all the " events" of any note, from 

 the time of their establishment. Comparatively, " Eufi " 

 is rather late in the field ; but this has been attended with 

 some concomitant advantage to its supporters. It is 

 more clearly printed than of late, and has altogether a 

 neater look ; while the delay has enabled the editor to in- 

 clude the " assumed names" which appeared a few weeks 



back in our columns — the mysterious Halls and Henries 

 and Thomases, who exert so much influence, but that so 

 seldom turn up in the flesh, or the " fashionables present." 

 Another fresh point is the bit of French news (also ex- 

 tracted from oirr columns) — the Derby and Oaks nomina- 

 tions over the water, with the names of the trainers, and 

 what any of them have done so far. Could not this be 

 yet further improved upon ? In these times, when Eng- 

 lish horses are running abroad, and French nags finishing 

 up for the Derby, and closer still at Newmarket, a few 

 leaves of foreign sport would be very acceptable. It is 

 impossible, thus early, to get a correct list of jockeys, with 

 their lowest riding weights ; and " Euff" reserves his, as 

 hei-etofore, for the spring edition. Those who have 

 awaited the appearance of their old Mentor will not be 

 without their reward, for Ruff's Guide to the Turf is stLU 

 worthy of its title and its previous good name, — Bell's Life 

 in London, 



THE PROVISION TRADE. 



ANNUAL REPORT. 



la reviewing the provision trade for the past year, we are 

 again led to the important fact, that the consumption of pro- 

 visions going on iu this countrj' swallows up all the supplies 

 which the whole of Europe and America can spare ; and we 

 notice particularly that butter, cheese, and bacon have com- 

 manded higher values than have ever before been realized ; 

 even before free trade, and when the United Kingdom was 

 mostly dependent upon itself for feeding its population. We 

 have had (in addition to the supplies from Ireland) butter and 

 cheese from Holland ; butter, cheese, and bacon from Ame- 

 rica; butter and bacon from Germany, and butter from 

 France : yet still prices have ruled so high, that scarcely any 

 room has been left for the dealers in these articles to make a 

 fair profit between the producers and the consumers, and it is 

 consequently doubtful whether the trade generally is better or 

 worse for the year's business. 

 Comparative Imports and Deliveries of Irish and Foreign 

 Butter into London, 1859-60. 



IKISH, FOREIGN. 



Imports. Deliveries. Imports. Deliveries, 

 Firkins, Firkins, Casks. Casks. 



1860...... 135,486 112,391 740,647 616,686 



1859 229,236 204,228 424,716 374,613 



Lard is also an article worthy of notice, being used for so 

 many besides culinary purposes. Supplies have, in addition 

 to those of Ireland, been received from Germany, Italy, Aus- 

 tria, and America to a surprising extent, as will be seen by 

 our summary of the imports. The price some few years since 

 was considered high at 403. per cwt., but this past year it has 

 ruled from GOs. to 703. per cwt., the latter extreme being the 

 present currency. 



Comparative Imports of L<)rd (from all places) to London and 

 Liverpool. 



Tons, 



From Oct. 1st, 1859 to Sept. 30tb, 1860 , 8,771 



Ditto 1858 ditto 1859 6,560 



Ditto 1857 ditto 1858 6,048 



In salt beef we have to notice some remarkable fluctuations. 

 The market opened at from 100s. to 1508. per tierce, but sup- 

 plies being excessive from America, and likewise from Russia, 

 which latter country has lately entered into competition, the 

 market declined to 70s. and 100s, per tierce ; and this fall in 

 value has continued in face of exceedingly high rates for fresh 

 meat in all the markets of England, the stocks on hand being 

 very heavy. We subjoin the comparative imports of beef for 

 the last three years, by which it will be seen that the last year 

 has been in excess of the former one by nearly 30,000 casks, 

 equal to 18,000 head of cattle, the total quantity being equal 

 to between 50,000 or 60.000 head of cattle ; a wonderful fact, 

 when we reflect that only a few years since Ireland alone fur- 

 nished all the cattle for salting, which are now, by the aid of 

 steam conveyance, chiefly sent to this country alive, or are 

 consumed there as fresh meat. The increase of consumption 

 of fresh beef is also very striking ; upon referriog to the im- 



ports of live cattle from Germany, Holland, and Spain (a com- 

 paratively new trade), we find they amounted this year to the 

 large number stated below ; yet the market fully maintained 

 its high price, until from the scarcity of winter food, arising 

 from the unusually bad season for root crops and fodder, made 

 it imperative upon the graziers and farmers to send their 

 beasts to Smithfield, whether lean or otherwise ; from which 

 latter fact we may infer that meat will again rule uupre- 

 cedentedly high this coming year, from the growth being pre- 

 maturely forced to market. 



Salt pork has maintained the opening price of the season, 

 85s. to lOOs. per brl., as this description of food has been 

 scarce everywhere, both at home and abroad ; added to which 

 the Government contracts for the navy have been unusually 

 large, equal to about 60,000 brls., of 2081bs. each, the average 

 price for which is £6 6s. per brl., the whole of the cure of 

 Ireland, Hamburg, and Dantzic, and which is now being salted. 

 This article may, therefore, be expected to rule very high, and 

 consequently to cause bacon to be the same ; but whether the 

 price will be as much as was paid at one time in the year for 

 Irish bacon (80s. per cwt.), is still a question to be solved. 

 The only circumstance which may possibly reduce the price of 

 pork for our mercantile marine is the disorderedstateof Ame- 

 rican politics, which has caused a fall in the United States of 

 from 20 to 30 per cent. ; but how long this state of things 

 may last is quite uncertain, for should matters be settled there, 

 a recurrence to high rates is sure to immediately follow, as 

 their paper money, when credit is good, enables both pro- 

 ducers and speculators to raise prices to any pitch that the 

 wants of their foreign customers may necessitate them to pay 



Comparative Statement of Imports of Beef, Fork, and Bacon 

 (from all places) to London and Liverpool, 1857-60. 

 From Oct. 1,1859, to Oct. 1, 1858, to Oct. 1, 1857, to 

 Sept. 30, 1860, Sept. 30, 1859, Sept. 30, 1858, 

 Poof ( 86,977 tcs, 59,581 tC9, 55,169 tcs, 



Beei...-i =,124 brls, 11,439 brls, 8,508 brls. 



,041 tcs. 15,562 tcs, 11,898 tcs, 



,638 brig, 91,991 brls. 64,840 brls. 



Bacon.. 18,080 tons. 12,473 tons. 18,231 tons. 

 Comparative Statement of Imports of Live Cattle, Sec, into 

 the United KingdBm, 1858, 1859, 1860, from 1st January 

 to 30th November in each year, 



1860. 1859. 1858. 



Oxen, bulls, and cows 60,225 57,863 56,463 



Calves 21,621 20,673 24,727 



Sheep and lambs .. 243,493 230,026 156,737 

 Pigs 20,035 10,360 10,530 



It may also be a question for the financier whether the large 

 influx of the precious metals for the last ten years may not 

 have had considerable influence in creating high values for 

 food, independent of the large consumption; and if so, 

 whether all paper money unrepresented by bullion is not add- 

 ing to this evil, and taxing all classes of the community, by 

 raising prices, Edmund Phillips & Son, 



London, December, 1860, 



( 86,9/ 

 I 8,12 



