The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-10-14 00:00:00

(To be continued.)

/t rate ant gontmerce.
.A4VLID4HAYI NM—This fair was held on Wednesday
and Thursday last. It was feared that the fact of the
small-pox being prevalent amongst the Wiltshire breeds
of sheep would deter many ficelt masters from sending
to Appleshaw ; it had not, however, so bad an effect
as was anticipated. Of Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Down sheep there was certainly a falling off, yet on the
whole the fair was a large one. At the commencement
of business many purchasers hung back from dealing
through the high prices asked, being an advance of
from ba to As. per Sheep since the he,ginning of Sep-
tember. Many *ha bought asked for a Warranty
from disease, and obtained the same. Few sheep were
sold on Wednesday ; but the greater number changed
owners the following day, at nearly the figures first
asked. It was stated that there were less sheep at the
fair by 20,000 than in 1860 and 1861. Prices for sheep
ran as follows Pine Sonierset Rwes, to.lamb within a
week or a fortnight, Made front 605. to /03. each; some
reached 80a., others went at from 555. to 58s. ; Dorset
ewes best, at from 60s. to 655. each, second quality and
Rise from 50s. to 555.; [Mr. James Davis, of Melcombe
Horsey, sold 500 horned ewes at 555, per head] ;
Oxford and Wilts ewes from 50a. to 608. each ; Somer-
set and Dorset shearlings or tegs made from 455. to
555. each • Oxford and Witte ditto Qom 40s. to 459.
each. Lambs (large) from 355. to 40s. each, smaller
ditto from 255. to 30s. each. Rams were sold at many
prices, regulated by age and breed, running from £4
up to Meech ; to Soule few instanoee higher prices
were obtained for very superior animals; Fitt ,heop
sold at from ss. 4d. to ss, 8d per stone of 8 lbs. There
was a good quantity of three-yesr-old steers and
heifers for feeding, cows in profit or near calving,
heifers and calves for stock, with some fat beasts.
There were many buyers at high prices--full £2 per
beast higher than last year. Store beasts made from
£l4 to £l6 each second rate ditto, gl.O to £l2 each
smaller ditto, 27E0 20 each- cows, beat, £2O to £22
each; second quality, from £lO to £lB eadh ; heifers,
from £l4 to £l6 each ; fat beasts, from lb, to its. od.
per score lbs. For horses there was but an indifferent
sale, on account of the high prices demanded. Best
nag horses made from £4O to £45 each; indifferent
ditto, from £2O to £3O each; cart kinds from £3O to
£3B; and a few superior animals made from £4O to
£45.
LEATHER tRADE. —According to ihe' client/kr of
Messrs. Boatcher, Mortimore, and Co., the market
during the present autumn has not been animated by
any period of extra activity. The transactions of the
past month !Ave, hoWever, continued to be rather in
excess of supplies. ThiShas canoed an increased scarcity
of fleveral deacriptionii of lealherl on which advanced
rates have been realised in addition to those enumerated
at the commencement of September. "From the
unlformity of the demand," it is added "which has
prevailed for some months past, it is evident that no
great provision can have been made by the trade for the
coming winter • we therefore calculate upon the con-
tinuance of agod steady inquiry later in this year than
usual."
Tug IRON TRADE.—The iron masters' quarterly
meeting took place at Birmingham on Thursday. The
attendance was good and the iron masters' were in good
spirits. Some slight disposition was evinced to advance
the price of finished iron but this was not pressed.
There was a good demand for manufactured iron for
the Continent, and the increased demand for France
will very soon make up for the diminished exports to
America. The Welsh makers reported that they are
obtaining an advance of 10s. per ton as compared with
last quarter-day, and the North Staffordshire firms are
also obtaining better prices. The prevailing opinion
! was that the prospects of the trade were brightening,
and that before long the extremely low rates that have
prevailed of late will be improved.
RRADING CHEESE AND HOP FAlR.—This fair, coin-
-
maimed on Tuesday, was brought to a el se on Wednes-
day, and proved successful to an extent beyond the
expectation of the committee. The show of hops was
large, and much better than last year, the firms in the
Borough being well represented. On the first day
buvere were not numerous, but there were more on the
following day, and trade was carried on with more
inirit than previously, a good number of pockets
'having exchanged bands, The prices realised were isti

NUOW-li I -Cllll4.iri Farntiftrao, t 9 to 98,

East Kent, £6 6s. to £9 es.; Sum', £6 65. to £BBs.;
and foreign, a 10s. to £7. A considerable quantity
of cheese was disposed of, the best Cheddar fetching
724. per cwt ; other sorts of cheese, 565. to 60s. As
the Farnham hop fair has failed there is every reason
for believing the Reading fair will be much more sue-
eeßsful in future years, growers from the disteict of
Farnham having promised to give it their support.

113ortrg.

"0 N C E."
" Once" is ll magic word,
It speaks of days gone by ;
"Once" tells us of the time
When absent friends were nigh.

"Once" speaks of happy hours,
Of happy hours of yore;
"Once" tells they have fled
To come again no more.

" Once" tells us of those friends,
Long since perchance in rent;
"Once" brings those back again,
We ever loved the best.

And " once," not distant far,
The time to part must come;
To meet perhaps no more,
Till we arrive at home:
" Once" landed on that shore
All pain and grief shall cease;
And we shall ever live,
In joy and perfect peace.
London, October 9, 1862.