Tlie Winter of 1885-86. 
423 
autumn. The following are the figures realised for each of the 
three preceding years :— 
£ s. d. 
1883 1208 8 0 
1884 949 0 0 
1885 650 0 0 
A number of facts relating to the sheep values in the North 
were given in the ' Newcastle Courant ' in the autumn, together 
with the opinions of eminent agriculturists on the same. 
Mr. Jacob Wilson attributed the fall in values to the following 
causes : — 
" (a) The recent enormous importations" of mutton from New Zealand and 
Australia in a frozen condition, from the former country of a first-class 
quality ; (&) the large importation of sheep alive from Germany ; (c) the 
general importation of animal food, both in its live and dead state, from 
America, Denmark, Spain, &c. ; (d) the great depression in trade and manu- 
factures, whereby the consumptive power of the working classes is greatly 
diminished ; (e) the importation of large quantities of colonial and other 
wool, which is a non-perishable material, and can thus be stored from year 
to year, to be put upon the market under the most favourable circumstances, 
and thus to practically prevent any important rise in the price of home-grown 
wool; and (/) the low freights at which the imports of food are brought to 
this country." 
Other correspondents referred to the failure of the turnip crop 
and to the diminished agricultural capital and consequently 
forced sales of farmer's stock. A sheep farmer also sent his 
prices for three-parts bred sheep during the September of a 
number of years. This information was given in the following 
Table :— 
Draft Ewes, 
Lambs, 
Wool, 
per Head. 
per Head. 
per 24 lbs. 
«. 
d. 
8. 
d. 
S. 
d. 
1870 
48 
0 
27 
6 
31 
0 
1871 
64 
0 
36 
6 
42 
0 
1872 
64 
0 
46 
3 
51 
6 
1873 
58 
0 
31 
6 
44 
6 
1874 
46 
0 
23 
6 
41 
6 
1875 
55 
6 
37 
6 
41 
6 
1876 
53 
3 
28 
0 
33 
0 
1877 
52 
0 
28 
6 
32 
0 
1878 
57 
0 
27 
0 
32 
0 
1879 
38 
0 
26 
0 
33 
0 
1880 
48 
0 
28 
6 
30 
0 
1881 
53 
6 
26 
6 
22 
0 
1882 
64 
6 
38 
6 
21 
0 
1883 
62 
0 
30 
0 
20 
3 
1884 
55 
0 
28 
6 
21 
0 
1885 
38 
0 
24 
0 
19 
6 
