The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-20 00:00:00

HOP INTELLIGENCE.

Bonoucit, JULY 16.—The accounts continue to come
very unfavourable. We have a firm market at last
week's prices. The duty is e,titnated at 65,0001.
MAIDSTONE.—AIthough some of the grounds in this
district are "as bail as bad can be," yet a sufficient
number show " pluck" enough to create hopes of hops,
as although the vermin stick to them, and seem to follow
them nearly as fast as they grow, the blues are not
without indicatiins of such vigour as will enable them to
beat their enemies at last, although it will undoubtedly
be a hard fight. Generally spelling, good farming will
"

MlREWO4Tll.—Notwithstanding the flattering tale
which has been told for some weeks past by your con-
temporary, we can assure yon the hops in this parish
are getting worse very fast, and not partially, but gene-
rally, so much so that a favourite pet ground, which was
offered to be laid at six bags per acre about a month since,
we can now find no person wild enough to back at 6 cwt.
There has been no prospect of an average crop for these
last six weeks, as there has been great quantities
of vermin, several grounds very slack of bine, and the
mould to a considerable extent in some groucds; the ap-
parent strong bine appears now to show strong signs of
distress from want of moisture and the ravages of the
vermin.

WA.TEILINGSURY.—The hops in this pariah get worse
daily, as we cannot observe any decrease of vermin, and
the hops want rain, the weak grounds more particularly
so. The mould appears in some grounds while on the
other hand there are some few grounds which are a little
free from vermin, and in which the bine looks healthy,
but they are " few and far between."
NETTLESTEAD.—The hops get worse, as the vermin
do not decrease, and the slack grounds suffer much for
want of moisture. There are more grounds short of
bine in this parish this year than usual. There is every
appearance of a very short crop.
TESTON.—The bine in this parish is stronger than in
some of the adjoining parishes, yet the hops get worse
daily, and we can see no prospect of an average crop, as
the vermin do not decrease. . . . . .

NULLING.—The hops, though coming into burr, look
less promising than they did last week, turning yellow,
rusty, and black.
WROTBA3L—There is not so much vermin on the
hops as there was, but the honey-dew still continues,
and the hops altogether do not present a much more fa-
vourable appearance. Great hopes are entertained that
the Midsummer shoots will yet produce a good crop.
BRENCBLEY.—The hops are still in a very bad state.
A great proportion is quite given over to a blight; in
others a little freshness appears. On close inspection the
vermin is found to follow them up.
CRANBROOR.—We have taken considerable pains
during the last week in watching the development of
the midsummer shoot, and we find it is very generally
followed closely by the vermin. There are some few
plantations in which we fancy we can discover a slight
improvement, but in the aggregate they are getting
worse than reported in our last; even in the best grounds
the heads of the bines seem disinclined to fraternise with
each other, curling back towards the poles, and evincing
a weakness (caused by the deprivation of the sap through
the glut of fly) which prevents them from covering the
poles.
YALDING.—Our hops in some few grounds that far
preceded others, do not look so well as they did. The
cold nights of late have been very prejudicial.
IGBTHAM AND SEAL.—Some grounds in high situa-
tions bid fair for a sprinkle of hops, but those in the
valleys continue much in the same state as last week.
EDENBRIDGE.—There is an improvement in some of
the best grounds, but the weak bines can do but little, if
anything.
HAWILEIIIRST.—In this neighbourhood scarcely any
improvement can be noticed, as the vermin follow the
young shoots too quickly for them to make any way.
TICEHURST.—The partial clearance of vermin noticed
a fortnight since has been succeeded by fresh lice, which
follow up the young shoots, where sufficient vigour re-
mains in the plant to produce them. We may still
except a few favoured pieces of bine that have as yet
been but partially attacked with the general blight.
Upon the whole, the estimate of the ensuing crop is
very low, and any great improvement is now become
hopeless,

iIiTIISTOREEN.-With few exceptions the hops in this
neighbaurhoo.l are iu a worse condition than they were
last week.

ORPINGTON.—The hops are very much in the same
state as last week, the young shoots being covered with
lice, as fast as they come; but about halt of the grounds
are so blighted, that there is no appearance of fresh
shoots, neither can there be, as they are quite done for.
Where the young shoots come we may grow about three
cwt. per acre.
FARNHAM, ALTON, AND COUNTRY DISTRICTS, JULY
16.—There is no improvement to notice.
The annual hop dinner at the lien and Chickens Inn,
Froyle, took place on Wednesday last, under the able
presidency of George Trimmer, Esq., of Farnham. The
fare was sumptuous. The nominations for the old duty
varied from 45,0002 to 105,0001, and the general opinion
was much against a crop. On reference to the records
of bygone years, it appeared that in 1840, on the 11th
July, the duty was estimated at 85,0001., but that it
realised only about 34.0001.—gaidstone Gazette, July 17.

INVERNESS GREAT SHEEP AND
WOOL FAIR.
(From the Inverness Courier.)

Our annual market is now nearly over, and we are
happy to be able to state that transactions have on the
whole been satisfactory. As a fall of prices was antici•
gated, the market was what is called a stiff one. The
sellers were unwilling to submit to a large reduction, and
the buyers were equally unwilling to rush hastily into
purchases. Hence, Thursday was entirely a blank day.
The street in front of the Caledonian Hotel was crowded
with gentlemen sauntering about, discoursing of their
prospects and intentions, and enjoying the fine weather
which fortunately prevailed during the whole of the
market. On Friday comparatively little was done, but
towards the evening some sales of wool were effected.
This day most of the principal fleeces were disposed of
before dinner, but many of the stocks remained unsold
till a later hour. With respect to wool, the rise has been
very considerable. Cheviot wool which sold last year at
us. and Ils. Gd. sold freely at 15s. and les. per stone.
The demand was great, and little has been left for con-
signment to the commission agents. Iu stock the fall
has been about equal with the rise in wool. Cheviot
wedders, as compared with last year's prices, are down
from 4s. to 53.; ewes, from 2s. to 33. 6d.; lambs, about 2s.
The sales last year were generally considered too high,
and some of the purchasers suffered from their attend-
ance at our market. In addiiiou to the rise in the price
of his wool, the farmer has another advantage in the
cheapness of his smearing materials. There was not a
single importation of butter from America last year, and
this season the supply has been extensive, particularly
from New York. Table-butter has also been uncom-
monly plentiful, and the consequence is, that contracts
have been entered into here for butter at 441. per ton,
which last year was 584 In looking at the statistics
of the market, and the prospects of the farmer, the
following is an important consideration :—There is a
fleece of every sheep for sale, and about five
fleeces make a stone. There is, however, only a
fifth part of the ewes, and about a third of the wed-
der stock sold at the market ; and this brings the
number of stones of wool and the number of sheep
disposable in a season nearly on a par. The great ad-
vance of the fleece will, therefore, come nigh to reim-
burse the farnser for the fall on the carcase, or at least
to render the difference of no great amount. With such
prices, and the prospect of a good harvest, added to the
improving condition of the manufacturing districts, we
hope we may congratulate our agricultural and pastoral
friends on their present situation, which, we sincerely
trust, may suffer no further deterioration.
SHEEP.—We believe the first lot of Cheviot sheep
sold at this market was Mr. Horne of Lsngwell's
wedders, purchased by Mr. Gilleson, at 255. The Lang-
well ewes were afterwards sold at 193. The following is
a note of some of the principal sales reported to us:—
Eribol wedders, 253; ewes, 17s; Ribigill, 24s 6d and 17s
6d.; Bighouse, 24s and 19s; Mr. Paterson's ewes (Arms-
dale and part of Melness, 800 in all), 18s; Torbol ewes,
183; Achmore wedders, 255, ewes, 17s; Auchinduich,
22s and 143 6d; Glendu, 25s 6d and 16s ed; Sandside,
25s and 16s; Ratagan wedders, 22s 6d; Gordonbush,
243 Gd and 15s; Balnakiel, 22s 6d and 14s 6d; Keoldale,
24s and 163; Ledmore wedders, 225; Mr. Brown, Link-
wood, wedders, 245, ewes, 16s; Inverbrora ewes, 16s;
Ardross wedders, 225, ewes 14-r; Skelpick wedders, 23s
ewes, 17s; Shewglie wedders, 235; Kyleakin wedders
21s, ewes, 12s ; Borgie ewes, 16s ; Mr. Gentle, De

wedders, 22s 9d ; the Scorrybrough wedders, 24s 6d ;
the Kingsburgh ewes, 16s. Mr. Seller sold his Suther-
land wedders at 261, or 261 per clad score ; ewes,
17s ; his Morven wedders, 211 los per clad score ;
and his ewes, Cheviot and crossed, at 121 per ditto. Mr.
K. Murray, Tain, sold the Forest Farm wedders at
23s 6d ; ewes, 14s sa ; Scorrybrough ewes, 15s 6d ;
Calgary ewes, 16s. Toe highest prices for Cheviot
stock are generally obtained by the Messrs. Hall,
Scibercross, and Mr. Houston, Kintradwell. Mr. Hous-
ton has sold his wedders at 30s, ewes 20s. The Messrs.
Hall have sold their ewes at 21s, but to this time (ten
o'clock) we cannot learn that their wedders are disposed
of. Mr. Kerr, salesman, bought the Drynoch wedders
at 221 5s per clad score; ewes, 12/ lOs. The Ospisdale
wedders sold at 23s 6d; ewes, 14s 6d.
The highest price reported for Cheviot lambs was 14,,
given for the Cambusmore lot; Torbol lambs, 12s;
Borgie, lls; Flodigarry, Its 6i; Mr. Sutherland's paly
lambs, 7s; Ribigill mid ewe lambs, 9s; Mr. Finlayson,
Dingwall, sold his Cheviot lambs at lOs; Ebest
monts, 14s; lambs, 93 3,1; Scallasaig lambs, 1 Is.
The Corrybrough blackfaced lambs, 7s; Ballachrean,
Kingussie, 7s 61; Glenfintaig cross lambs, 9s.
Mr. Clark, of Ulva, sold the I.Tiva cross wedder lambs
at from Bs. to 9i.; the Liggan Ulva cross wedder lambs
at the same price. Mr. T. Anderson, Gairloch sold the
Kerrisdale cross wedders at 20s, etyes, ditto, 1:0. Mr.
Maclennan, Ord, sold the C slack ewes at 14s;
Mr. Mackenzie, Scardroy, slack
Scatwell, slack ewes, Its 6d. sewes at 14s; Mr. Macrae,
tranchrubie owes, 163;
wedders, 22i.
Most of the blackfaced stock was reserved for sale at
Fort William on Tuesday next.
WooL—The prineipal lots of Cheviot wool were aod
at 16s per stone—namely, the clip of Mr. St-IlarMolr
vich, the Bighonse, the Loehinver, the Achmore, the
Torboll, the Ardross, the 'the Inverpuly, the
Sandside, the Cambusmore, and the Skelpick—all these
Jots at 16a per stone. Some also good lots sold at 15s.
The Knockfin clip (about 1,400 stone) was disposed at
1155; also the Auchinduich clip Iss ; Mr. John
Chisholm, Inverness, bought from 6,000 to 7,000
stones at prices varying from 13s 6d to 16s. Mr.
Stewart, Flodigarry, sold his Cheviot wool at 14s 6d;
the Forest Farm wool, 15s 6d ; Richrakan,
13s 6d. The Conan half-bred hog, white, was bought
by Mr. Johnstone, Invern?ss, for 20s 6d ; it was con-
sidered among the best lots in the market. Mr. John-
atone also bought several lots of laid wool for 12s to
14s 6d. The Gairloch Cheviot wool "sold at 14s 3d ;
cross do. 10s. Cheviot wool, salved with Messrs. Tap'