The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-14 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON', MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1863.

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The Great Christmas Cattle Market,

THIS DAY.

A remarkably fine season for the production of live stock,
a very high range in the value of food, an abundant supply
of grass, turnips. &c., in most parts of the United Kingdom,
and a continued increase in the demand for butchers' meat,
notwithstanding the amount of distress which has so long
prevailed in the cotton districts, combined to produoe one
of the finest shows of beasts for Christmas consumption in
to-day's market almost ever witnessed. Perhaps, indeed,
we are justified in saying that the supply, taken collectively,
was never equalled. Much has been said of the value and
importance of the now extended system of crossing, both in
a productive and monetary point of view. We fully admit
that judicious crossing has produced important results to
the country generally; nevertheless, we were much gratified
to find the pure breeds of the country so well represented,
because we may still calculate with safety upon purity and
stamina for future breeding purposes. From the large
number exhibited, we may, in the first place, refer to the
short-horns as a distinct breed. They were certainly quite
equal to all former shows, both as regards symmetry and
quality. With a very few exceptions, this distinctive and
important breed showed signs of great weight. There were
fewer " staggy" animals amongst it than on some previous
occasions, and the prices realised for them were, in our
opinion, highly remunerative. It will be perceived, there-
fore, that the shorthorns have supported their Great reputa-
tion as wonderful stock for general consumption.
In dealing with the Devons, we find much to be satisfied
with. They were in somewhat greater force than in the
last two years, and well suited for West-end consumption.
Perhaps the best portion of the supply were 40 North
Devons, the property of Mr. Senior, of Broughton House,
near Aylesbury. These arrivals weighed from 140 to 200
stones each—an unusually great weight for North Devons
—and excited the admiration of the most experienced but-
chers. There were a few what may be termed middling
beasts from the west of England, but the supply from that
quarter, as a whole, was remarkably fine.
The show of Herefords was unusually prime, and the
number was rather on the increase, especially from our
best grazing districts.
With Scots from Scotland the market was well supported,
indeed, we may observe, that this;• breed exhibits points of
great excellence. As usual, Mr. M'Combie, of Tillyfour,
was a most important exhibitor. That gentleman for-
warded no less than 62 pure Scots—viz., 37 to Messrs.
Maidwell and Hoyland, and 2,5 to Messrs. Giblett and Son.
The were no young animals amongst them, -and the whole
found buyers at high quotations. The Norfolk and Suffolk
horned and polled Scots came to hand in splendid cmdition,
and were easily disposed off.
There was a good sprinkling of beasts from Sussex, in
full average condition. We had hoped from the appearance
of the show yard, to see a larger number of young animals ;
but we found most of the stock, though wonderfully ripe,
not well suited to first-class consumption. In our opinion,
Sussex, though not what may be termed a great stock-pro-
ducing county, could turn out year by year a large num-
ber of beasts from 2to 3 years old. Many of the beasts
shown on the occasion were 6,7, and 8 years old, and had
evidently been worked.
There was a large and fine collection of Welsh runts,
when compared with previous seasons. It is satisfactory
to find this description of stock coming forward more freely
to meet consumption. We ourselves are at a loss to
imagine upon what grounds the breeders have partly
abandoned so important a breed, unless they find it more
advantageous to adopt the crossing system, and thereby
produce early maturity.
The stock from Ireland presented no room for special
comment. As usual its quality was but middling, and
sales progressed slowly.
The number of crosses considerably exceeded all former
years. Almost every county in England—but more espe-
cially Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, was well re-
presented in this respect ; whilst at least two-thirds of
the best from Scotland were cross-breeds. The display
was certainly a wonderful one. Even quality and fine
condition were the leading characterists ; but in our opi •
nion the most valuable crosses were those between the
Scots and short horns, which, in numerous instances, rea •
lised as much money as the pure breeds.
The following return shows the number of beasts'exhi-
bited, and prices realised for them on the great days in the
last 22 years :

Years. Beasts Shown. Prices.
1841
1842
3813
3844
1845
1846
1847
1818
1849
1850
1851 . 6,103
18 2
3853
1854
1855
1856 . 6,748
1857
1853
1859
1860
1861
1862

Mr. Geerge Dickson had many large consignments of ex-
cellent animals from Scotland. They were forwarded by
Messrs. Martin, Knowles, Wishart, Kidd, Longmore, Sto.
dart, Beddie, Reed, Frost, Mitchell, and other extensive
graziers.

Mr. Vorley had a very prime show of stots from Scot-
land, Norfolk, &o.
Mr. Thomas Martin's stand was well filled with fine
beasts, among which were three short-horned steers, bred
and fed by Mr. John Gamble, of Shouldham Thorpe, Nor-
folk.

Besides those above referred to, Messrs. Giblett and Son
had on sale some remarkably prime Scots, forwarded by
Mr. A. Mennie of Aberdeenshire and other graziers.

At the stand of Messis. Morgan and Allday we observed
a noble collection of slots, chiefly from Norfolk.

Various other salesmen had a fine show of beasts, but we
must observe that there were fewer heavy animals amongst
it than in some former years. On the whole, however, the
supply was remarkably even, considering the enormous
number in the market.

The exhibition of sheep was extremely good as to quality
and the number was a fair average one.
Messrs. Lintott and Son had some superior sheep—
Hampshire Downs—the property of Mr. Paul, of the Isle Of
Wight. Other prime sheep were forwarded by Mr. Bates,
of Harpenden, Messrs. Fraulls, Hoare, &O.

Mr. John Wall exhibited some very prime sheep from
liertfordshite and other counties.

Mr. Charles Burrell had on sale some splendid Hamp-
shire Downs from W. B. Conning, Esq., of Devizes ; Earl
Darnley, Kent; Lord Lucan, &o.
Mr. Garrier's stand was well filled with Cotswolds from
the flocks of Messrs. Hewer, Craddvell, and others; also
with some very superior Dutch sheep, the produce of a first
cross with Cotswold rams.

Messrs. Eland and Son, Mr. Woodward, and Mr. Han-
cock had an omellent show from Lincolnshire and other
counties. The weight of some of the animals was enor-

MOUS.

Mr. Dodd exhibited some very good Hampshire Downs,
belonging to Messrs. Wetherington, Highton, Reading,
Hodges, Dodd, and Beesley. Mr. Mawer exhibited three
superb Hampshire Downs. The same number was shown
by Mr. Lathbury from the flock of Mr. W. F. Bennett, of
Chilmark, near Salisbury.
Mr. B. Weall had some very
quarters. good sheep from various

The yearly comparison of weekly imports is as follows :
Beasts. Sheep. Lambs. Calves. Pigs.
1861.. 463 .. 3,630 .. .. 391 .. 12
18R0 368 .. 4,039 .. .. 124 .. 61
1869 499 .. 3,702 .. .. 255 .. 59
1858 678 .. 3,424 .. .. 141 .. 121
1857 555 .. 4,756 .. .. 375 .. 4S
A. statement and comparison of the supplies and prices of
fat stock exhibited and sold in the great metropolitan
cattle market, on Monday, Dec. 15, 1862, and this day.
Monday, Dec. 14, 1863.