The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-10 00:00:00

FRENCH AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR
JANUARY.

Notwithstanding that snow fell in considerable
quantities during the early part of the month, the weather
has been tolerably favourable for outdoor labour. This is,
however, somewhat backward, even in the best counties;
sad we egret to learn that the quantity of wheat sown up
to this tins. is smaller than usual. The wheats which were
mown early are making little progress, and a large portion
must now stand over till the spring. There has been
an increased demand for all descriptions of wheat,
at an advance in the quotations, compared with the
previous month, of from 3s. to 4s. per quarter.
The imports from abroad have continued on a large
scale for the time of year ; nevertheless there has been very
little incremein the stocks in warehouse either in London
or at the outports : the demand for home consumption,
owing to the poor condition in which English samples have
come to hand, having been unusually active. Most of our
markets have been well supplied with potatoes in good
saleable condition. The disease doss not appear to have
spread itself in the pits, and Scotland continues to ship
largely, as we anticipated. We may, however, take it for
granted that prices will rule high during the neat three
months, as the continent to haw very few
to spare for us. supply of hes .is on sale
potatoes to
consumption has been on • very large
scale, and, with some few mcoeptions, in more saleable con-
dition than in some previous seasons • in other words, more
consumable meat has been offered ;,nd disposed of. This
we conceive is a step in the right direction, because all
must be aware that animals produced beyond a certain
weight too frequently lead to heavy losses un the part of
the graders. From ell quarters unfavourable somata
have leached us in reference to the bad quality of the
winter food. Much of the bay is in • musty state,
and the usual properties of beet and other root 'crops
have not been fully developed, owing to the wantef sufficient
warmth in September and October. The demand for all
kinds of wool has been in a most inactive state, and prices
have ruled almost nominal. The supply on offer is, how-
ever, very moderate, and the importations on a limited
scale. The demand for hope has fallen off, and prices have
had a drooping tendency. The general qoality of those
from abroad is by no weans fine. From 'lreland supplies of
potatoes have come forward rather freely, but their
quality has turned out netber inferior when compared to
sonic former years.—Galemani.

IRO.V.II.ISTERS' QUARTERLY MEETING.
WOLVERHAMPTON, WEDNISDAT

The tumid quarterly series of the assemblies of
the ironmastera of this district for the current quarter com-
menced in this town this afternoon. The attendance was
the smallest we have ever witnessed, and the business
transacted was nominal. Sales of pig-iron might in all pro-
Lability have been effected if very low prices had been ac-
cepted y but so far as we could ascertain .the pig-masters
evinced no disposition to press sales on those terms, though
it was admitted that stocks are increasing rapidly, and that
unless furnaces are blown out, and the make reduced, there
is no chance of prices maintaining even their present low
range.
The transactions in finished iron were also 'moderate.
The exporting firms are doing very little in titaffonlabire
iron at this moment, and home consumers buy nothing be-
) ond their immediate requirements. The trade has been
dull enough for a long time ; the advance in the rate of
discount Las very much increased the depression, and the
tone of the meeting to-day was unquestionably a desponding
one ; in fact the January quarter-clay in 1838 was not more
unsatisfactory than the present one.
The coal trade alone is prosperous; and up to this time
the old canal has been kept open, which is very much attri-
butable to the quantity of hot water flowing into it from the
various works along its banks.
This was also manufacturers' quarter-day. and no com-
plaints reached us relative to the payment of the accounts
due as usual.