Oat Meal...................... 3082 Ind. Corn Meal.. 13685 803133 479524 ... 548. 648. 468. 488 Covent Garden Market. LONDON, THURSDAY, JULY 19. Cherries are still arriving in bad condition, and are only oleared at very low prices. Currants havr improved, and Raspberries continue to make readg sales at high rates, Owing to the London season being nearly over, the demand for high-class fruits has considerably decreased, and we may now look forward to a steady fall in such goods as Peaches, Grapes, Melons, &c. FRUIT. . d. 30 Oranges, hundred 12 0 0 0 Peaches, per doz....... 60 8 0 Pears, dozen 00 . d. B. d. Apricots per box...... 9 0 Apples, half-sieve 0 0 to Cherries half-sieve 60 Cobs, per lb 0 0 Grapes,lb... 1 6 Lemons, hundred. 8 0 Melons each.......... 40 10 0 20 0 21 0 00 0 0 Pine Apples,..... 20 80 Strawberries, lb... 0 4 12 Figs, green, each.. 04 VEGETABLES. 60 16 10 00 67 3 Peas. green, per bush 3060 shelled, per quart 1 6 Potatoes, new, per lb 00 00 Radishes, per bunch.. 01 Spanish per doa...... 10 New Jersey, per doz 20 Rhuba b, bundle ... Salsafy,bundle...... 0Shallots, lb.......... 0 0 Spinach per bushel... 26 04 Tomatoes, doz....... Horse Radish, bund. 4 0 to 0 0 Turnips, bun....... 04 03 00 00 06 08 10 06 0 0 00 0 0 3 0 00 06 Leeks, per bunch...... 0 2 Lettuces, Co. per doz. 0 0 English, score ....... 20 04 new, per bundle ... 10 0 Veg. Marrows, each... 3 0 0 01 16 60 CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR IN MARK LANE. Shillings per Quarter WHEAT, Essex & Kent, white...... old to new 64 to 69 red oldnew 63 Norfolk, Lincinsh., and Yorksh. red oldnew 60 Chevalier new...... 47 BARLEY Artichokes, per bus. 0 0 to 0 Mint, grn., per bunch 06 06 Printed by HAZELL, WATSON, & VINEY, 265, Strand, London. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER, 1877. PLATE. ROSSINGTON, THE PROPERTY OF T. HARVEY D. BAYLY, Esq, EDWINSTOWE HOUSE, OLLERTON. Rossington is a light bay gelding by Cain, out of a Canute mare, and a very nice looking fifteen stone hunter, showing plenty of breed on good short limbs, which he brings well under him when galloping. He is one of the best looking of the many Edwinstowe, nags which have been exhibited, a hobby which must cost his worthy owner a good round sum annually in purchasing horses of that form which, in his judgment, will win the approba tion of the triumvirate in a show-ring. Rossington has only appeared in the arena seven times, and has won the following hunter's prizes:-The second at Alexandrapark, and at the Royal Agricultural Show at Birmingham, in 1876; the first at Manchester; the third at Islington; the first light weight, and the first heavy weight at Alexandra-park; and the first at Peterborough, in 1877. OUR FOOD In accordance with an Order of the House of Commons in March last, the British Consular Representatives in Europe, North Africa, the United States, Brazil, and the River Plate have forwarded statistical information as to the number of cattle and sheep in their several consulates, and their views on the capabilities of these localities to supplement the food supplies of Great Britain. On the whole it cannot be said that we are in the possession of much information fron this Government return. All the facts were pretty well known before, though this is the first time public attention has been officially called to them. Yet there are some interesting features in the reports to which we shall call especial attention. Taking Europe first, and beginning nearest home, we find that France is, at present, scarcely able to supply herself with animal food, and that we certainly cannot look to her for any appreciable addition to our own meat supplies. Prior to the Franco-German war we received a considerable number of very excellent animals from France, coming chiefly to the port of Southampton; but the trade has almost entirely fallen off. At the present time the price of meat is higher in Paris and the other principal towns in France than in London and corresponding country districts in England. Although the several accounts show that the number of live stock is now as great as it was before the war, there does not appear to be an excess of supply over demand which would enable any considerable exportation to be carried on. In the Bordeaux SUPPLIES. district the statistics show that the number of live stock does not sensibly increase, although there is abundant room for greater production. The farm holdings are small, averaging under 24 acres of arable and meadow land throughout France, and, even with the uncultivated land, they would not average 30 acres ; whilst in the Bordeaux district they are smaller still, averaging under 18 acres, or about 25 acres, including waste lands. From this circumstance the Consul fairly argues that these small farmers are deficient both in the capital and the enterprise necessary for the creation of an export cattle trade, and that their energies are even now taxed to supply local wants. The annual consumption of animal food in France is estimated to be equal to about 38 per cent. of the home stock, and 24 per cent. of the sheep. In 1875 France imported 1,428,537 head of stock, and exported 190,519 head, and in the Bordeaux district the importation was six times as great as the exportation in respect of cattle, and twenty times as great in respect of sheep and lambs. From Cherbourg we receive eggs, butter, and pigs, but few cattle. From Havre we get a few cattle, but, as the Consul remarks, considering the high price of meat in that town it is strange that any cattle should be exported. From Calais there are only occasionally a few animals exported. Marseilles is an importing district, cattle being sent to that market from Sardinia and Algeria. The Consul reports that a ship is being fitted up with a refrigerating apparatus to trade between the VOL. LXXXIII.-No. 3. River Plate and Marseilles with dead meat. In Brittany there appears to be a considerable production of stock, which is in excess of the local consumption. Part of this might become available for the English market in the shape of dead meat, if English capital and English industry be directed to it, but not unless. The last official returns showed the total number of horned cattle of all ages in France to be 11,721,459, sheep 25,935,114, pigs 5,755,656, and goats 1,794,837. Taking France as a whole, then, she must be regarded as an importing rather than an exporting country in the matter of animal food. Meat is dearer in France than in England, and although the climate is favourable to agricultural improvement, and, notwithstanding there are undevoloped resources, there is a want of the capital and enterprise which are requisite for an export cattle trade. The The returns from Denmark show that the cattle on the mainland (Jutland) are principally reared for consumption as meat, whereas those on the islands are chiefly dairy stock. Consul gives prominence to the efforts made both publicly and privately, to conform to the conditions of the English market, the harbour of Esbjerg having been built at a great expense with the sole view of developing the cattle trade between that port and England. He points out that the restrictions imposed from time to time by the English Government have a prejudicial effect on the cattle trade of Denmark, and that, as a result, dairying is becoming more prevalent on the mainland, and so far displacing the cattlerearing industry; he tells us, too, that the "export of fresh meat has at no period shown itself to be a paying speculation, and no trade in the article is now carried on; thus all the public and private arrangements and regulations made have only had the live cattle trade in view." This is significant. The Consul appears to have in his mind the welfare of Denmark, and between the lines one may read, "What will become of us if you prohibit live stock importation to England?" That is not our business; England must take care of herself, and Denmark will have to do the same. If the export of fresh meat has not been made profitable there, it has elsewhere. Danish exports are chiefly to Germany Schleswig-Holstein) and Great Britain. In 1875 ve took 50,200 horned stock, and 55,200 sheep, And there were also exported to SchleswigHolstein 45,400 horned cattle and 14,500 sheep. The trade with Great Britain has been steadily increasing, whilst that with Germany has reinained nearly stationary. The number of horned stock in the country is said to have doubled itself every second year since 1869, and in 1875 the number of sheep was four times greater than in the preceding year. In 1871 the total number of horned stock, including calves, was 1,238,898, and of sheep and lambs 1,842,481. The export trade of the Netherlands is carried on chiefly from the ports of Rotterdam, Harlingen, and Nieuwediep, in British steamers. In 1874 there were 16,570 bulls, 926,788 milch COW 9,965 calves, 65,101 oxen and cows for slaughter, and 10,653 draught oxen, together 1,469,077 head of horned stock. In the same year the sheep numbered 936,429, and the pigs 352,369. The exports of live stock to Great Britain in 1875 were 42,520 bulls, cows, and oxen, 38,935 calves, 406,881 sheep, 1,698 lambs, and 39,844 pigs. Germany is the chief cattle-exporting country of Europe. The breeding and rearing of cattle is carried on principally in Baden, Wurtemburg, Bavaria, and Hesse. In 1873 the total number of horned cattle of all ages was 15,776,702; sheep and lambs, 24,999,406; pigs, 7,124,088; and goats, 2,320,000. On the whole, it appears that Germany is increasing her production of animal food, and the quality of her cattle especially is being improved by the use of English sires. The sheep-breeding industry is not so satisfactory throughout the country; but in certain districts great attention is paid to the breeding of animals suitable to the English market. There is no doubt that Germany possesses resources from which a large supply of meat could be sent to Great Britain; and whilst, as is the case with Denmark, the whole export trade is in the shape of living cattle (with the exception of a small quantity of fresh meat from Hamburg), there is no reason but that of the cost and inconvenience of altering existing arrangements why we should not take all the beef and mutton Germany has to spare. Mr. Ward, the British Consul at Bre merhaven, alludes to the great dissatisfaction expressed by the cattle-owners in his district at the restrictions placed on the export trade by the Privy Council, which are, they say, "preju dicial to their interests." No doubt they are they were not made in the interests of the German cattle trade, but ostensibly in the interests of the British public. To solicit the British Privy Council to relax or remove these restrictions because they do not conduce to the prosperity of German cattle breeders and exporters is an utter absurdity. But Mr. Ward very justly points out that, notwithstanding the utmost caution, diseases do come to England, via Germany, and therefore the interests of British cattle-owners will still be exposed to risk so long as the traffic in living animals continues and not only the British cattle-owners but the British public as well will be sufferers. Mr. Ward calls attention to the fact of Russian and Hungarian cattle being mixed up with the German stock exported to Great Britain. He says:-"The very short time which, owing to improved railway communication, is, as a rule, now occupied in the transit journey of such animals through Germany from their native districts (frequently mere hot-beds for Cattle Plague and minor diseases) renders it impossible for even the most experienced veterinary authori ties to discover at all times, with infallible certainty, traces of disease amongst such beasts." In like manner Consul Herstlet, speaking of the cattle-trade of the Konigsberg district of Prussia, says "In Russia the Rinderpest is always in existence in some part or other of these extensive dominions. Formerly, before the existence of railways, it was natural |