The Sun.
London, England, 1834-10-15 00:00:00

RETFORD HOP FAIR.

Our great annual fair was held for the 491st time on
Thursday and Friday last, and was the best in almost every
respect we have witnessed for a long series of years. As we
had anticipated, the quantity of hops offered was consider-
able, amounting to 3,261 bags, including about 120 bags of
yearlings. Last year, the quantity of new and old amounted
to 1,557. The quality of the new produce is, generally
speaking, fine, but they have weighed off lighter than was
expected, owing principally to two causes—first, the very
short period in which they made their growth, and secondly,
to many of the growers commencing to pull them full a
week earlier than they ought to have done. From these
causes the crop is not only light, but will prove somewhat
inferior in strength to those of 1832. On the first day of
the fair, prices seemed to be somewhat drooping, and what
purchases were made were done very tardily ; a considerable
quantity of Kent and Sussex hops, however, were sold at fair
remunerating prices. On the second day, the market opened
in a very brisk state, and continued so until evening, with
prices a little creeping up. At the close of the fair, nearly
every bag was purchased, a circumstance altogether unpre-
cedented here, and at prices too which were generally con-
sidered satisfactory to both sellers and purchasers. The
samples of Kents and Sussex which were shown were fine
in colour, but we have seen them much better in former
years ; and the difference between the growth of these
counties and the North Clays was strikingly apparent,
proving the general superiority of the hops grown in this
district over all others in the kingdom, Farnhams, perhaps,
excepted. Mr. Atkin Ogle, of 011erton, sold upwards of
300 bags ; Mr. Williamson, of Rufford, 130 ; and Mr.
Gravenor, of Bellinoor, 103 ; this latter gentleman's hops
realized the highest price in the fair. The Earl of Scar-
borough's produce was good, and so were the whole of the
Beastwood plantations ; Mr. William Bullivant, of the lat-
ter place, sold at prices nearly as high as Mr. Gravenor.
The produce of the Elksley plantations was beautifully
fine, especially Mr. T. Johnson's, which were supposed to
rival the whole district, but it was disposed of previous to the
fair. The samples of Messrs. Fisher, wheelwright, and Hud-
son of Clarberough, were greatly admired, and all found
ready purchasers. The prices obtained may be stated as
under :

Clays £5 sto 6 0 choice £6 10 to 7 0
Kents
Sussex 5 otos 10 fine... 6 oto 6 6

Yearling Clays were not much enquired for until the second
day, when several parcels were sold at prices varying from
4/. to 41. 12s. A few good Kents, of the growth of 1832,
were offered at 3/. 3s. but without finding a customer. Du-
ring the fair, the weather was delightfully fine, and it may
be questioned whether more money ever exchanged hands,
or whether a fair has passed over, giving such general satis-
faction to all parties—a proof that this mart is rising in im-
portance, bidding fair to rival some of the best established
fairs in the Kingdom.—Nottingham Mercury.

THE MARKETS.

COUNTRY CORN MARKETS,

Wheat.

iscatt s Pease.