Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

9 articles on this Page

Advertising

MARKETS.

Account tf Wheat, lire. arrived…

SMITHFIELD MARKET.

HOPS.

METALS.

PRICE OF BARK, per ]b.

DOMESTIC.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR FEBRUARY.…

News
Cite
Share

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR FEBRUARY. This has been the third month of an exceedingly fine winter some of the oldest farmers with whom we are acquainted have said, the finest and, on the whole, the most favourable one, both to depastured animals and to husbandry, within their recol- lection. So mild and vegetative, indeed, has been its tempera- ture, that vegetation has had scarcely a single week's repose in it. Even at the month's commencement, both crop and natural grass had assumed a springlike complexion the elder-bush had begun to open, and, in some instances, expanded its foliage and some of the early fruit-trees, as well as wild and garden shrubs, had, even in many bleak situations, begun to germinate, and were, by the middle of the month, in about the same state as was the elder-tree at its commencement. In brief, the only com- plaints we have heard of the growing crops, or any other branch of vegetation, have been, apprehensions of premature luxuriance, especially as relates to wheat plants and winter turnips both these standing in need of a sharp frost, to prevent excess of growth, in the former, at too early a period of the spring, and also to save the bulb of the latter from being exhausted of its nu- trilure, by the growth of its tops, ere the fattening and store stock had done with them. However, both the growing wheat and early sown oats, are, with the exception of the former being in the state above-mentioned, said to be everywhere, at least, in England, manifesting great promise and the sowing of oats and other Lent corn, as well as all field labours incident to the sea- son, to have proceeded, notwithstanding the occasional rains, to a very considerable, and a far greater, extent, than in the Febru- ary of the generality of years, though some of the lands were so tender (although considerably hardened hy the strong westerly gale that accompanied and intervened the showers) as to be so much, as it is termed, cut about," by the trampling of the teams and pressure of the wheels of the manure-carts, rendered the manuring of them very laborious, both to man and beast. However, all farm labours have gone on well the depastured sheep and beasts, flocks, herds, &c. are described so healthy and in good condition, as also to have subsisted so far through the winter with the aid of comparatively little fodder. We have heard, in the course of the month, several extensive flock-masters and graziers assert, that they did not believe they had an un- sound sheep on their farm nor did thev know anv bodv who had But, though farmers, in general, appear to be exceedingly grateful for, and highly satisfied with, the promise of their grow- ing crops, and the state and condition of their live stock yet, they complain most bitterly of high rents, tithes, and taxes, the dulness and depressed state of the coin markets, and the general pressure and political perplexity of the times and also appear to be much harrassed by the pending discussion and the threatened repeal of the corn laws. The prices of most kinds of fat stock, as also wool and milch cows, have, since the commencement of the month, looked a little upwards of hops, hay, and straw, somewhat downwards while those of dairy produce and poultry have been, in the whole, about stationary but, in both our metropolitan and provincial corn markets, trade has been very dull, at, particularly in the latter, considerably drooping prices. There arrived, in the different ports of the United Kingdom, in the course of the month, ending on the 1st inst.,—2937 quar- ters and 4 bushels of the different kinds of foreign corn 7048 quaiters and 6 bushels paying home consumption duty, in the same period leaving 800,809 quarters and 4 bushels under bond, at the above-mentioned date. bond, at the above-mentioned date.