THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



227 



sumption in poor localities, where they are dressed up aad 

 sold for lamb ! 



la our leading gtiziv.i; districts the quality of laat year'a 

 hay and root crops is still much complained o'. There is a 

 great abundauce of both as to quantity, but the quality is far 

 more inferior tbau durint; the last two years. Oi course, the 

 want of quality interferes very much with the exertions of the 

 feeders in producing good saleable stock, and compels them to 

 use more tbau the usual quantity of cake. 



The foUowinf; return shows the total numbers of stock 

 exhibited and disposed of in the Metropolitan Cattle Market 

 during the past mouth : — 



HEAD. 



Beast 18,760 



Cows 500 



Sheep 83,280 



Calves 934 



Pig 2.080 



Comparison of Sui'plies. 

 Beasts. Cows. Sheep. Calves. 



Feb. 



18G0 19,750 



1859 17,694 



1858 18,276 



1857 17,629 



1856 19,642 



1855 17,436 385 



Pig3. 



91,180 



596 



2,705 



The arrivals from Norfolk, Suffolk. Essex, aad Cambridge- 

 shire have comprised 9,800 Scot?, shorthorns, and crosses ; 

 from the northern counties, 1,200 shorthorns ; from other parts 

 of England, 4,000 various breeds ; and from Scotland. 590 

 Scots and crosses. No beasts have reached us from Ireland. 



The importations into London from abroad have comprised 

 the following : — 



HEAD. 



Beasts 2,030 



Sheep 5,582 



Calves 846 



Pigs 27 



Total 



8,485 



Tutalinl860 7.018 



1859 7,809 



1858 2,320 



1857 4,720 



1856 3,087 



1855 2,839 



1854 10,683 



Beef has sold at from 3-'. 2d. to Ss., mutton Ss. 8d. to 6s., 

 veal 48. 6d. to Ss. 8d., and pork 48. to 5a. per Slbs. to sink 

 the o£fal. 



Seasonably good, but by no means heavy supplies of Scotch 

 and country-killed meat have been received up to Newgate 

 and Leadenhall. The demand has bsen somewhat inactive, at 

 the annexed currencies. Beef from 23. lOJ. to 4s. 4d., mut- 

 ton 33. 4d. to 5s., veal 4s. to 43. 8d., Pork Ss. 6d. to 4s. lOd. 

 per 81b«., by the carcase. 



ISLE OF ELY. 



The variable character of the weather still continues. Ore 

 <Teek we have mild and genial weather, prompting the belief 

 that spring is near ; and another, we have a return to cold 

 and snow, reminding us that it is still winter. The cold 

 seems reluctant to leave us, and we fear it may linger long 

 into the spring. We have hitherto had but little thoroughly 

 drying weniher. The mild and spring-like days have not 

 been searching and bracing, but generally have been damp, 

 with a moist, heavy atmosphere. The high lands wi'.l scarcely 

 work well yet : they are well pulverized by the frost, but re- 

 quire to be a little drier on the surface before the horses go 

 upon them. The growing wheats are only moderate in many 

 instances. On clover leys, and on wet. high lands generallj*. 

 the plant is very thin and sickly. The slugs have eaten the 

 former, and the water has decayed the seed in the latter. On 

 all these lands, the prospect is anything but flattering. Upon 

 the fen soils the plant, too, is greatly injured, and promises 

 badly. These lands were very wet whea the severe frost set 



in, which made them more susceotible of influence by the 

 frost. The consequence was, the action of the frost was so 

 great, that it raised these lauds so suddenly and so consider- 

 ably that the stem of the wheat was broken — completely 

 snapped asunder — through the lifting up of the land ; and 

 the plant is very seriously thinned, and in some instances will 

 require reaowing. Our Fen prospects are, therefore, anything 

 but encouraging, and our Fen farmers are beginning to de- 

 spair. They have already had three decidedly bad harvests in 

 succesjion, and are now threatened with a fourth ; but we 

 trust their fears, in this instance, may not be realized. It is 

 premature to judge of a wheat crop )et ; but still, where the 

 plant is largely lost, it requires strong faith to anticipate an 

 abundant harvest. Horses now find full employment in pre- 

 psrir.g the land for the reception of the spring seed. Beans 

 are alread}' being planted, and many are being sown over the 

 plough-beam. With a few fine days, oat-sowing will be com- 

 menced ; most of the land designed for this crop is already 

 ploughed, or will be in a very few days. Keeping is tolerably 

 plentiful. Mangolds hold out very well, and, with an average 

 spring for grass, will latt through. Store cattle are dearer, 

 with a brisk trade. Sheep are scarcely as high as they weie. 

 They made a rapid advance a few weeks, since which they 

 have hardly maintained. The corn trade is as languid and 

 depressed as it can be. It is a misnomer to call it a trade. 

 Nobody cares to buy our low Fen qualities ; and where sales 

 are effected, prices are invariably bad. Better condition 

 might improve the demand, probably ; but in this respect, 

 " Hope long deferred makes the heart sick," — Your Fen 

 Reporter. — Feb. 19. 



NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. 



We are gradually passing through another trying winter, 

 having to contend with the want of food and quality of such 

 for stock. The hay-stacks are found very defective, and every 

 expedient the mind can conceive is made use of, to make the 

 whole available as food. Steaming of it stands first of the 

 contrivances, hot water is brought to help where the steam- 

 ing-apparatus is wanting, and mixture with better food where 

 the trouble of both is avoided. The fact is, that these are the 

 seasons when out of the evil comes forth good, for many of 

 the modes of economy now practised will not soon become 

 obsolete. The turnips and mangold crops are found deficient, 

 and pulped roots with cut hay and straw is the method per- 

 sued by our leading ones for the lengthening out of winter 

 provision. How is it that a practice so easy and sensible has 

 not been before now universal ? Straw in many districts is 

 far from being plentiful, arising from the wantof bulk grown, 

 and the scarcity is increased from a less amount of thrashing 

 being done. Our pasture fields look fresh and green, and 

 what little tillage fog we have is appreciated by the owner. 

 The wheat crop has improved on all dry soils, while on cold 

 clay lands it seems doubtful, and too weak to hazard an opin- 

 ion on it. A limited breadth was sown in the autumn and 

 early winter, but a more than usual quantity has been put in 

 during the last fortnight, and no doubt will be for a week or 

 two to come, should the weather be favourable. Farming 

 work is in a very backward state, little autumn clearing was 

 done, and farmers will now be more than usually engaged in 

 getting up the arrears. Our cattle markets are quiet, with 

 little change. Some very lean stock is shown, and such very 

 little wanted ; fat stock keeps up, and should the consumers 

 be in a position to buy, must, one would think, advance ia 

 value. Our corn markets are strange affairs, strange we say, 

 because of the many varieties offered : wheat from 363. to 80s. 

 per qr. ; who, under such circumstances dare quote prices ? 

 The last year's crop is wofully bad in quality and quantity. 

 One farmer offered the wheat of his farm, the whole of it, for 

 six bushels per acre, value about Is. per stone of Hlbs. Never 

 since 1816 do we remember anything so bad and universally 

 so. Barley coarse, except in a few favoured districts. Oats 

 want colour. Beans soft and wanting the kiln to make them 

 useab'e. Nottingham, Mansfield, and Newark markets, famed 

 for the good show of corn, is out sadly, and a fine sample ia 

 more the exception than the rule ; the consequence is, many 

 farmers find thtmselves wanting money, while the foreigner 

 walks off with the cash. The labour market is affected, and 

 the labourer has more trouble to get employment. Let us 

 hope on. — Feb, 18. 



