Wool and Fat Stock in England.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2057, 20 April 1887, Page 2

Wool and Fat Stock in England.

Agricultural papers have been received by last mail up to February 21. At that date prices for English wool were firm, notwithstanding political and war rumors. The sales of colonial wool had closed the previous week, and on the whole satisfactory prices bad been obtained. A summary of the wool trade was given as follows Tbe condition of the industry is substantially sound. The statistical position of tbe article is strong, and if peace be maintained there is a general feeling that improvement can scarcely fail to show itself. The last few days of the senes have been marked by brisk competi* tion and a hardening tendency in prices, and the sales close with good spirit." Prices for fat cattle seem to be getting no better, while mutton sells pretty well. The tendency of the fat stock trade evidently favors lighter weights and early maturity. Big fat carcases are almost unsaleable, or are sold at a loss, cs the following instance of an extensive feeder will show. Writing to a farming journal, he says: —"1 have Just sold halt a score of fat bullocks at £7 10s apiece. These cattle 1 purchased four months ago, aud after feeding them all that time, at a cost of Ss 0d per head weekly, they have only left 2s Od each between the buying aud selling price. Altogether 1 estimate the total loss at £7O on the lot, aud my loss is not an exceptional one." The editor thus comments on the transaction ;—“ This is truly a sorrowful tale, aud we trust it has few parallels throughout the country. So long, however, as farmers continue to purchase lean cattle by guess instead of weight, depreciation in their value will always be difficult to avoid. Tbe advice on this subject, tendered by Mr Westley Richards and Sir J B. Lawes, is not appreciated bv farmers nearly so much ;n it ought to be."