408 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  10,  1900 
and  therefore,  technically  speaking,  began  this  year  on  April  23rd, 
and  finished  on  the  28th ;  but  though  the  23rd  was  the  official 
commencement,  and  the  day  on  which  the  city  authorities  first 
allowed  horses  to  stand  for  sale  in  the  public  streets,  the  real,  and  in 
some  respects  the  most  important  business  began  nearly  a  week 
before.  On  Tuesday,  the  17th,  horses  had  arrived,  and  buyers  had 
preceded  them.  Business  soon  became  exceedingly  brisk,  for  the  war 
has  created  an  extra  demand  for  medium  horses,  which  has  had  an 
influence  on  both  the  higher  and  lower  classes  of  animals.  We  have 
heard  (but  of  course  it  is  hearsay)  that  the  deepest  depths  of  some  of 
the  inn  yards  could  tales  unfold  as  to  Sunday  trading  ;  but  perchance 
they  are  idle  tales,  and  when  the  yard  is  spacious  and  secluded, 
and  the  straw  bed  thick,  a  gentle  exercise  canter  is  almost  a  work 
of  piety  as  well  as  necessity.  As  many  of  the  early  buyers  are 
continental,  they  at  any  rate  would  see  nothing  wrong  in  a  little 
pleasant  relaxation  on  Sunday  afternoon.  That  much  business  was 
done  this  year  on  the  22Dd  of  April  we  doubt,  for  many  sellers  of 
high-class  horses  had  already  sold  out  and  gone  home,  and  so  few 
animals  were  present  unsold  that  business  would  cease  for  want  of 
material. 
We  have  a  strong  exemplification  of  the  truth  of  the  proverb 
that  “  the  early  bird  gets  the  worm  ”  in  the  fact  that  the  fair 
yearly  commences  a  little  earlier.  Easter  and  Bank  Holiday  acted 
in  prevention  of  this  on  the  recent  occasion,  but  as  a  rule'  the 
buyer  who  turns  up  an  hour  behind  his  opponent,  and  therefore 
misses  the  chance  of  valuable  bargains,  makes  careful  note  of  his 
mistake,  and  comes  earlier  next  year.  Vice  versa  the  same  occurs 
the  year  after,  and  so  on  ad  infinitum,  until  we  wonder  how  long 
it  will  be  before  Lincoln  April  Fair  commences  in  March. 
The  visitors  brought  to  Lincoln  by  the  sheep  fair  on  the  Thursday 
and  the  beast  fair  on  the  Friday  come  chiefly  from  Lincolnshire  and 
the  neighbouring  counties.  It  is  the  horse  fair  which  brings  people 
such  long  distances.  This  year  there  were  buyers  from  North  and 
South  America,  France,  Germany,  Italy,  Belgium,  and  Holland.  A 
demand  for  horses  for  continental  n>ilitary  purposes  had  been  anti 
cipated,  and  large  purchases  were  made  by  the  Governments  of 
Germany,  Italy,  and  France.  The  prices  given  by  these  military 
authorities  were,  however,  not  so  high  as  bad  been  expected,  and 
there  was  some  disappointment,  although  prices  were  better  than  at 
previous  fairs.  The  horses  these  buyers  required  were  from  15 — 1  to 
15 — 3  hands,  not  under  five,  or  over  ten  years.  Prices  were  from 
£35  to  £45,  with  an  occasional  £50,  whilst  officers’  chargers  ranged  as 
high  as  £60. 
Of  the  high  class  horses,  hunters  were  not  so  much  in  demand  as 
usual,  though  fair  prices  were  realised  for  good  animals  with  some 
reputation.  There  was  an  excellent  trade  for  harness  horses,  and 
many  made  high  prices,  Mr.  W.  J.  Smith  of  Oadogan  Place  giving 
£1000  for  six  to  Mr.  Beldam  of  Witchford,  Ely.  Fcr  cobs  and  ponies 
there  was  also  an  excellent  trade  at  good  prices.  Pine  draught 
horses  were  very  scarce  and  dear,  and  prices  rose  considerably  during 
the  fair,  dealers  buying  them  and  reselling  ;  some  were  resold  several 
times.  The  following  prices  will  give  some  idea  of  the  value  of  the 
different  classes : — 
Matched  pairs  of  carriage  hores 
High  stepping  brougham  horses 
do  saddle  hores 
Good  carriage  horses  , . 
Troopers,  from  .. 
Bus  and  van  horses 
Cab  horses 
Ponies 
Draught  horses  for  town  work. 
Farm  horses 
£150  to  £350 
70  to  140 
80  to  160 
70  to  120 
35  to  60 
30  to  55 
20  to  35 
15  to  120 
50  to  125 
30  to  50 
The  sheep  fair  on  Thursday  was  the  smallest  on  record,  only 
10,000  sheep  being  penned,  as  against  15,000  last  year,  18,000  in 
1898,  and  23,000  in  1897.  This  great  falling  oft  this  year  must 
have  been  expected,  for  few  farmers  have  had  many  Turnips  left 
since  January,  and  large  numbers  of  hogs  were  sold  to  the  butchers 
in  early  spring  which  in  tl-.e  ordinary  course  of  things  would  have 
been  shown  at  this  fair.  A  firm  of  bankers  offer  a  cup  every  year  for 
the  best  pen  of  100  grazing  he  hogs.  The  fir.=t  prize  pen,  belonging 
to  Mr.  Headland  of  Potter  Hanworth,  sold  for  70s.  each,  but  afterwards 
changed  hands  again  at  a  good  profit  ;  the  second  prize  lot,  the 
property  of  Mr.  Maltby  of  Dunston,  who  had  previously  won  the  cup 
two  years  running,  made  72s.  each,  going  to  a  grazier  at  first  hand. 
In  Lincolnshire  yearling  sheep,  which  in  the  south  are  spoken  of  as 
hoggets,  are  known  as  hogs,  and  the  males  and  females  as  heders  and 
sheders. 
Prices  for  sheep  were  not  much  above  the  average  of  previous 
years,  many  farmers  only  making  about  the  same  as  last  year,  but 
when  the  very  mean  and  backward  condition  of  the  majority  is 
considered  the  prices  must  be  looked  upon  as  very  satisfactory.  We 
know  that  many  butchers  have  lately  found  their  mutton  cost  them 
fijd.  per  pound,  and  even  more,  and  this  shows  how  scarce  are  sheep 
with  any  meat  on  them. 
Nine  years  ago  was  formed  the  Lincoln  Longwool  Sheep  Breeders’ 
Association.  This  society  is  now  considered  to  be  the  leading  sheep 
breeding  society  of  the  world,  and  we  notice  in  the  account  of  the 
annual  meeting  at  Lincoln  rece  tly  that  no  less  than  60,000  lambs 
were  officially  earmarked  by  the  society  last  year,  being  about  4000 
less  than  during  the  previous  year.  It  was,  therefore,  not  on  account 
of  the  shortage  of  the  1899  lamb  crop  that  this  year’s  sheep  fair  fell 
so  far  below  the  average  in  numbers. 
The  Lincolnshire  Red  Shorthorn  Association  held  its  sixth  annual 
meeting  on  the  Wednesday  in  fair  week,  and  its  annual  sale  of  bulls 
on  the  Thursday.  About  300  fine  specimens  of  the  breed  were  offered 
for  sale,  and  almost,  if  not  quite,  all  found  purchasers  at  prices  varying 
from  15  to  105  guineas.  The  improvement  in  the  general  character 
of  the  bulls  shown  at  the  sale  since  the  association  was  formed  is 
remarkable  for  so  short  a  time. 
The  beast  fair  on  Friday  was  about  an  average  one  as  regards 
numbers  and  price,  but  below  average  as  to  quality.  Good  fresh 
bullocks  were  very  scarce,  and  iiiade  up  to  £25  each,  but  many  of 
the  cattle  shown  were  in  poor  condition,  and  these  met  a  very  slow 
trade.  The  better  class  beasts,  which  make  upwards  of  £20  each,  are 
chiefly  bought  to  graze  and  finish  on  the  rich  salt  marshes  which 
border  the  Lincolnshire  coast. 
There  is  a  most  varied  pleasure  fair  for  sightseers,  but  few  of  the 
people  who  attend  on  business  bend  their  steps  in  that  direction  when 
business  is  done.  There  are  many  objects  of  historical  interest  in 
Lincoln,  and  a  few  spare  hours  may  be  profitably  spent  in  studying 
and  pondering  over  these  relics  of  bygone  days. 
Work  on  the  Home  Farm. 
The  weather  has  been  very  variable  since  our  last,  and  has  been 
favourable  for  farm  work.  Two  sharp  frosts  did  no  harm  except  to  the 
pasture,  and  a  nice  rain  following  a  few  dry  days  has  done  much  to 
aid  the  drags  and  harrows  in  preparing  the  land  for  Swedes.  Some  of 
the  stronger  fields  are  not  in  a  very  kind  condition,  as  they  turned  up 
very  rough  when  ploughed  over  lately ;  the  attempt  at  working  them 
in  February  apparently  did  more  harm  than  good.  This  once  more 
proves  how  unwise  it  is  for  farmers  to  be  too  anxious  to  get  work  done 
when  weather  conditions  are  unfavourable  ;  it  is  very  seldom  that 
there  is  any  real  saving,  and  more  often  there  is  a  positive  loss. 
Wheats  are  looking  well,  and  they  are  keeping  root  fairly,  few 
complaints  of  wireworm  being  heard.  The  plant  generally  is  good, 
and  though  backward  we  think  well  of  the  prospects  of  this  crop. 
Barleys  have  grown  and  come  on  wonderfully  ;  the  heat  during  the 
latter  end  of  Easter  week  having  given  them  a  capital  start.  We 
have  heard  many  remarks  as  to  the  rapidity  with  which  Barley  has 
grown  this  spring,  and  this  should  do  much  to  make  up  for  the  late 
sowing.  We  hear  one  or  two  farmers  who  drilled  early  complain  of 
their  Barley  suffering  from  grub,  but  as  a  rule  Barleys  look  very  well. 
The  same  may  be  said  for  Peas,  and  also  for  winter  Beans,  which  never 
looked  better. 
Cattle  are  not  making  much  progress,  for  there  is  little  grass,  and 
they  are  still  looking  thin  and  backward.  There  will  not  be  much  June 
beef  this  year. 
Ewes  are  poor  and  look  very  ragged  and  badly.  It  is  a  pity 
that  clipping  time  is  not  here,  for  some  of  them  will  soon  have  little 
wool  left.  It  might  pay  to  clip  early  this  year  if  the  temperature  would 
allow,  for  we  always  notice  an  improvement  in  the  ewes  after  they  part 
with  their  wool,  for  this  latter  requires  some  support,  and  is  only  a 
burden  when  not  needed  as  clothing.  Lambs  are  doing  fairly  well,  but 
are  much  behind  their  usual  condition.  Fat  ones  have  never  been 
scarcer  or  dearer  on  May  1st. 
