THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



183 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 

 JANUARY. 



The long continuance of a very severe frost, and the im- 

 proved condition of much of the new wheat in stack as a 

 consequence, added to immense importations of wheat and 

 flour from the United States aud other sources of supply, 

 have produced great heaviness ia the demand for produce 

 generally, and wheat has fallen ia value about 4s. per qr. 

 It is necessary that we should here observe that the rapid 

 advance in the lowest price for money at the Bank of 

 England to 7 per cent., and the refusal on the part of the 

 directors to discount corn bills presented by Greek houses, 

 have compelled many of the importers to sell rather than run 

 the risk of a heavy loss upon holding forward. Both in 

 London and at the outports the stocks of produce are un- 

 usually large, and it appears to us that we are completely 

 overdone with supply for the present, consequently that 

 prices will continue to recede ; because we must bear in 

 mind that, as yet, very little new English wheat has been 

 disposed of, and that, after making due allowance for falling 

 oif in yield and condition, the quantity held is quite equal to 

 last year at this period. 



The barley trade has become much depressed, and the 

 quotations have given way fully 2s. per qr., owing to the 

 great heaviness in the demand for all descriptions of malt. 

 There has been very little change in the value of other arti- 

 cles, though, of course, tlour has sold on rather lower terms. 



The quantity of wheat and maize in store at New York, 

 at the latest advices, was over 4,500,000 bushels. By 

 some persons it is apprehended that the bulk of this enor- 

 mous supply will continue to be shipped for England ; in 

 that case, it would be difficult to understand where the pre- 

 sent downward movement in prices will stop. 



Out-door farm labours, in nearly all parts of England, are 

 somewhat backward ; and we regret to state that much of 

 the land, originally destined to be sown with winter wheats, 

 has lain fallow untd now. This is a most unfortunate matter 

 for the farmers ; but the fact is that they were unable to get 

 upon the land at the usual period, owing to its saturated 

 condition. More wheat has been thrashed out than in 

 many previous months. The severe frosts have greatly im- 

 proved the corn in the stack ; but the produce, as a whole, 

 is a wretchedly poor one. Barley and beans are turning 

 out much larger crops than was at one time anticipated. 

 Advices from the continent state that wheat is offering on 

 lower terms, and that the demand for all other articles is in 

 a most inactive state ; however, we may safely conclude that 

 we shall receive heavy importations from that quarter after 

 the re-opening of the navigation. 



The cattle trade, almost generally, has been in a dull 

 state, arising from the fearful amount of destitution in the 

 metropolis ; nevertheless, no change of importance has taken 

 place in the quotations. 



Great heaviness has prevailed in the demand for all kinds 

 of English wool, at a decline iu the quotations of Ojd. per 

 lb. Foreign and colonial qualities, owing to dear money, 

 have ruled very dull, and prices have shown a tendency to 

 give way, notwithstanding that the stocks in the manufac- 

 turing districts and elsewhere are very limited. 



A complete change has taken place in the state of the hop 

 trade. The admission of foreign hops for consumption at a 

 duty of 20s. percwt. has been followed by a heavy reduction 

 in the price of English, Foreign hops have come to hand 

 in great abundance, and not a few of those from America 

 and Silesia are equal in strength to our Sussex qualities. 

 The supply of really fine new hops on offer is confined to a 

 few pockets produced in Mid Kent. It is presumed in some 

 quarters that the arrivals of foreign hops during the Spring 

 will not be very large. 



The supplies of hay and straw on offer have heen only 

 moderate! Duripg tm frost prices advaiwecl to some ex' 



tent ; but since then they have given way. They may be 

 thus quoted : Meadow hay, 21. to 51, I5s. ; clover ditto, 3/, 

 to 5^ 18s.; and straw U. lOs. to 21. per load. 



REVIEW OF THE CATTLE TRADE DURING THE 

 PAST MONTH, 



Notwithstanding that only limited supplies of live stock 

 have been on offer in the great Metropolitan Cattle Market 

 during the month just concluded, the demand has been in a 

 very inactive state, at prices about equal to those in Decem- 

 ber. The great severity of the weather, which has thrown 

 thousands of people out of employment, has, no doubt, re- 

 duced the consumption of meat considerably, since it is 

 quite clear that a fine open temperature, combiued with 

 very moderate supplies, must have enhanced the currencies 

 considerably. It is gratifiyiog to observe that both beasts 

 and sheep have come to hand in better condition than for 

 some time past, and that very few of the latter affected with 

 the rot have made their appearance. 



The northern season for beasts may now be considered as 

 closed ; hence we are now drawing upon the Norfolk sup- 

 plies. Judging from the general weight and symmetry of 

 the stock which has, as yet, reached us from that important 

 county, it would appear that the past has been what may be 

 termed a favourable season for fattening, even though the 

 weather has been very changeable, and although a great 

 scarcity of good sound food, for both beasts and sheep, ia 

 complained of. The Scotch bullocks continue to arrive in 

 remarkably prime condition ; but it is stated that the num- 

 bers destined for England this year are very moderate, when 

 compared with many previous seasons. 



The supplies of Irish stock have fallen off considerably, 

 and their quality has, for the most part, been indifferent. 

 Some of our correspondents state that large numbers of 

 cross-bred sheep are undergoing the process of fattening for 

 England. On the whole, the demand for sheep and calves 

 has continued in a healthy state ; but pigs have given way 

 in price to some extent. 



The present high range in the value of money in the dis- 

 count market must, we are of opinion, operate against any 

 rapid upward movement in the price of any kind of meat; 

 indeed, inferior qualities will, we imagine, command a very 

 moderate amount of attention, until after trade and commerce 

 shall have become in a more wholesome state. 



The severity of the froat has completely checked importa- 

 tions from the continent ;. but we understand that large num- 

 bers of both beasts and sheep (the latter chiefly crosses) are 

 iu process of fattening in Holland for the Loudon market. 

 The following figures show the arrivals into the metropolis : — 



HEAD. 



Beasts 1,094 



Sheep 1,374 



Calves 240 



Total 2,708 



Total in 1860 6,760 



1859 9,264 



1858 2,342 



1857 4,633 



1856 3,292 



1855 9,102 



18.54 ,. .. ■ .. .. 7,919 



1853 12,847 



The total supplies of all kinds of stock shown in the 

 Metropolitan Market during the mouth are as under ;— 



HEAD. 



Beasts 17,612 



Cows 505 



Sheep 75,240 



Calves 677 



Pigs ., .. .. .. .. 2,000 



