The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-10 00:00:00

THE WOOL TRADE OF 1859.

We give the following 'street from the annual circular
of Messrs. Hughes and Ronald, which will be found
especially interesting to our agricultural friends :
It is our pleaeing task to be able to report favourably
of the wool trade generally throughout the past year.
'I lie great falling-eff in the exports of manufactures dur-
ing the panic created, no doubt. • vacuum that required
filling up, but when we find the increase to have been
such as even to exceed the hitherto largest shipments of
1857, we very naturally ask whether any new markets
have been opened to or is this solely to attributed to
a greater development of existing channels, arising from
the fact that • more extended commerce, as • matter of
course, brings about a larger demand for our productions
in'return. We incline to the latter view ; and since a
brisk export trade always materially contributes to the
full and steady employment of our home population, who
in their turn become not only larger consumers of all the
necessariee of life, but even of the so-called luxuries, we
may thus account for the very large home demand for
all kinds of woollen goods that has prevailed during the
year.
With regard to the domestic wools political affairs on
the Continent in the early part of the year induced all
to act with extreme caution, and det,l red foreigners to
a certain extent from taking their usual supplies from our
markets; this continued up to clip-time, when con-
sumers, being much lower in stock than was anticipated,
showed great anxiety to supply themselves at the open-
ing rates from growers, and competing very keenly,
forced prices up in • few weeks to within a shade of
the highest point attained before the panic, and at these
rates • large portion of the clip was disposed of. t 'on-
tinental affairs again becoming very unsettled, the trade
was once MOINI induced to act with great caution, and
though probably no material decrease in the consump-
tion took place, still all needy holders, in order to effect
sales, had to submit to a reduction of from 24 to 5 per
cent., which state of things continued up to the end of
October, when, with an increased steadiness of cmuiump-
tion, prices recovered firmly.
'rho imports of foreign anti colonial wools in the ag•
gregate amount to re than in the preceding year, and
are about equal to those of 1857.
Australian.—The import for the year shows • small
increase, and the condition has on the whole been fair,
New Zealand shows the greatest improvement, and the
enlianecslprices obtained in consequence will be an incen-
tive to the grower for further exertions.
Cape of (loud Illope.—The decrease in the import will
be found considerable. There is • very great improve-
went in the getting up of some of the flocks, which have
sold at very high prices, thus proving, as regents some
districts, et any rate, that it only requires care and at-
tention to produce • much better class than the hitherto
general imports from that quarter, and it is to be hoped
the satisfactory prices realised for these well-conditioned
parcels will induce other growers to follow the good ex.
stelae. There have been reports of late of very great losses
in the flocks from drought, but we hope they may be
found to be exaggerated, for besides entailing a heavy
loss to the settler, it would check the supply, which is
not more than sufficient to satisfy the general wants.
German.- -The import has been much larger than in
former years. In the early part of the year, owing to
the high prices of colonial wo,A and the very unsettled
state of political affairs on the Continent, many holders
there were anxious sellers, and some considerable parcels
were bought for this country at very low rates.
Spanish and Portugal.—The supply of the former has
been very limited, and every succeeding year seems to
indicate that it will cease altogether. Oporto shows a
large increase. The demand for washed is partly governed
by the prices of English combing wool, and as these have
been steady for souse time, there has been • fair demand
for this description during the last six months.
United States.--There have been no imports of the
growing of this country during the past year.
Buenos Ayres.—The import. show • falling off. The
demand throughout the year lias been fair, and the best
nianagast flocks usually imported here have met with
ready sale, and to • certain exterat our demand fluctuates
with that for colonial wools.
Peruvian and Alpaca—The arrivals of sheep.' wools
show a very large increase. The import of Alpaca has
also increased. The stock now left is only about 2,000
to 3,000 ballots. which are held for higher rates.
East India.—The imports this year show • slight de-
crease as compared with the two former years, which
does not arise entirely from a diminished supply, but
froui the circumstances that, instead of England receiv-
ing as hitherto, nearly the whole export from Bombay,
• portion is nowsent direct to the United States, Primes,
and Germany. The demand throughout the year has
been very steady, and prices have ruled more uniformly
than during the previous year; but we regret to find
that less care is taken in the peeking of these wools than
formerly, some marke showing a considerable portion of
country damaged wool, and appearing also to have been
press-packed while damp.
Egyptian has been much sought after during the year
at relatively high prices, and we are glad to perceive •
:eery great improvement in the getting-up of these wools,
in consequence of which the better classes have com•
metaled very fall rates.