The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-10-18 00:00:00

Vampsbtre.

Weverid, FAIN Oct. 10. —Thin celebrated fair
commenced yesterday with the sale of &heck), he. It
not only ranks high as a stock and sheep fair, but.
one of the greatest hop fairs in this country. Sussex
Kent, and Worcestershire contributor their growth
of hops to this great lair for sale, and Surrey con-
signs its highly famed " Pendulum " for competition
at this great hop mart. The fair will last the whole
week. Yesterday and today are for the isle of
sheep, stock, and horses, and the four last days are
exclusively for hops, cheese, arc. The hop barns and
offices are in readiness fur hops, and several mike of
ground are under canvas, taking in the hulk of hop
plantations. The sheep fair.—The side hills were hid-
den by the sheep pens, which were well tilled, and it
is estimated that between 300,000 and 400,000 sheep
were hurdled in for sale. The western conntiis con-
tributed largely with some of the choicest and best
breep sheep, anti Sussex meet the pure Southdown.
The fair opened with • brisk business, and prices
asked exceeded the value obtained at the late Wilton
Great Sheep Fair. The following were the figures
made of the various breeds of sheep:- -West-country
store sheep—useful, well-conditioned wethers, 414.
to 4.54. a-head; store sheep, for folding on turnips,
365. to 44'5.; strong tags, varied according to breed,
and made from 295. to 345. Southdowns—prime
wethers, 375. to 43.. ; cross bred ditto. 30s. to 365.
and ; well-bred Southilown ewes, 32s- to 37s- a-
head; choice ditto of celebrated flocks, 3So. to 43..;
lambs (wethers), 23a. to 25.: ditto (ewes for stock),
2le to 26..; and plain lambs 21a. to 235. a-head.
Rams.—Many choice bred tups were on sale. Pure
Southdown rains were in high competition; sea-
soned trips realized from 5 to h guineas, and rams of
pedigree 10 to 15 guineas. Horned sheep (Dorset's)
young well-bred ewes, lambing down early, 421. to
465. ahead; full-mouthed ewes, 365. to 40s. ; and
couples (ewe and lamb), 48e. to 54..; and well-bred
stock lambs, 275. to Us. a-head. A large portion of
the sheep penned up were sold, and towards after-
noon the puns were cleared out. There ale immense
droves of Welsh tattle and home•lired stock ready
for sale. The horse show promises& fine one; many
large herds of unbroke colts will be on offer. The
roads approaching the fairdields are blocked up with
wagons awl vehicles bringing up hops. Preparations
for an extensive cheese fair is being made.
On Wednesday this celebrates' hop fair was for-
mally opened for the sale of hops. There was a 'orgy
attendance of factors, growers, ice., from every hop
county. The number of pockets of hops pitchisl
this year exceeds that of last fair, and will nearly
approach 5,000. London was largely represented by
hop factors and merchants, AMU the chief brewers
sent agents. At the tionnuencetuent of the fair very
few gales were effected. Hop growers asked an
advance on recent rims made at country markets,
ecc., and, buyers being unprepared for this step on
the part of hop planters, business began slowly.
large growths were purchased on speculation, and
will be retailed out. Sussex supplied some well.
grown and well-preserved hops, Kent brought pockets
of her choicest gatherings, which meta good inquiry.
Mid and East Etat obtaiutal the highest pricy.

Weald/ commanded a sale at late prices. Worces-
tars and country hops were in retmost, although pri-
ces aiked prevented active business. Farnhaws, as
usual. formed the chief attraction of the hop fair,
and the eager .leinand for this description of hope
xausal good pricai to be made. Thu samples were
In excellent condition. The annexed wen: the pri-
ces made tine growth (ruin choice plan.
tatimis, made from 31. to 3/. 10s. pct. cwt.. and Inany
growers hell over rather than make abatement;
Kent hupa, Weahls, bold at from N. 10s. to 31. lbs.
and 4/. per cwt., Mid and East Kent! realising 4/. to
4/. Ills. and 5/. per cwt. ; Worcester and country
pickings vitriol in price from 3f. 12s. to 4f. ; Fain.
hams fetched from 5/. lss. to 61. 65., and Kitimat
samples if. per cwt. In the aggregate a large
amount of business was transacted. although there
was no activity displayed, as business was princi-
pally in the purchasing of whole growths, and which
will be subsequently submittal fir sale in lesser pro.
portions, in fact the fair cannot be and to he more
than formally opened, and hops are still being
brought up. The bop fair was resumed on Thursday.
In the cheese and provision fair there was a brisk
trade. There was a good demand fur best cheese
and well-cured bacon, Prime Cheddar cheese made
625. to 704 and 525. per cwt. (Iloceder (good
doubles), 544 to (Ns., and single 445. to 504 per
cwt. ; choice made Stiltens, 41. 44. to 51. per cwt. ;
primest descriptions of old realized Is. pa lb.
Bacon—Flitches of well.cured bacon made id. to 91.
per lb. A good business was transacted among well-
bred dairying stock, ar.c.
WiNcilLiTEir. -Rifle Corp.. —The rifle corps
formed in this city has considerably increased its
number of sworn members during the past week,
upwards of 60 have taken the oath of allegiance, and
there is now good ground for anticipating that the
maximum number of 100 privatai will now be ob-
tained. Two sergeants of the Rifle Depot Battalion, '
stationed at the barracks, are now engaged in in.
Arm:tiny, the "Inlayers in the hat alterations and
iniprov,ineets in the system of ride thrill, and the
corp.; are making rapid mad, eveu to the wait MI,
tiated eye, evident iirogress.