The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-16 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LO1'P014:. MuN i.UY EvENJNG, DECEMBER 10, .1,3137.

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS
CATTLE 11AEKLT.

appear, we regret to say, to have become quite out of
fashion in the metropolis. Some thirty years since, they
produced quite as much money as Soots, although the
supplies were large. The Sussex breed was well repre-
sented, but the number brought forward was only mode-
rate. The great success of this breed in the show yard led
some persons to anticipate a considerable increase in the
number brought forward to-day.
Quite an average supply of beasts came to hand from
Scotland for the time of the year. Without exception,
both the pure and cross-bred animals were in splendid
condition. As such, they were taken off somewhat freely,
but at prices which did not appear to satisfy the graziers.
There were a few good beasts from Ireland ; but the
aggregate supply in this respect was inferior.
It is satisfactory to state that the mongrel broods wore
less numerous than usual on the "great day."
The following return shows the number of boasts exhi-
bited, and the prices realised for them on the great day
during the last 26 years :
Beasts shown- Prices.
1841
1842
1813
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1819
1850
1851
1852
1853
1851
1855
1856
1857
1858
189
1860
1861
1862
1863 10,370
1864
1865
1866

We now procoed to particulariso tho best portions o
his great market.
At Mr. George Drillson's stand there was a large col

lection of very prime Scots and crosses forwarded direct
from Scotland. The best lots were the property of Messrs.
Martin, Knowles, Wishart, Skinner, Reid, Mitchell, Frost,
Biddle, Bruce, and other graziers of Aberdeenshire. Also
some very fine lots from Messrs. Longmore, and Mr.
Stodart of Banffshire.

Messrs. Maidwell and noyland had an excellent show
of beasts chiefly belonging to Mr. J. Reid, of the Vale
of Alford, and Messrs. Morrison, Wallace, and Strachan,
of Tarriff. There were also
,some prime stock bred by
R. Bond, Esq., and other graziers.
At /Mr. Vorley's stand we noticed a fine collection of
beasts from various parts of the country. Mr. Hicks had
likewise a fine show.
Mr. Thomas Dixon had some very fine Norfolk and
Lincolnshire beasts, belonging to Messrs. Fletcher,

Capon, Miller, ke.
Other salesmen had some very fine lots, among which
were some wonderful animals, the property of Mr. M-Oom-
bie, of Tillyfour, Aberdeen.

One of the cows exhibited in the show yard was broug

forward.

Taken as a whole, the supply of beaFts was remarkably
fine, and certainly in excess of last year as to number.
With hemp the market was but moderately supplied,
whilst the general quality of tho long-wools was not equal
to last year.

Mr. Gland had a good show of Lincolns belonging to
Mr. Healey of Croft, and Mr. Caswell of Rointon.

Mr. Wallby exhibited some very good Downs and lislf-
brods, chiefly belonging to the Earl of Salisbury. There
were, also, some very fine Down lambs, the property of
that nobleman.

Mr. Dodd exhibited some fine sheep, belonging to various
graziers.

Mr. Lintott, Mr. Weal], Mr. Garrior, Mr. Corfu, Mr.
Startloy, and Mr. 0. Burrell, had some very fine sheep on
offer.

STATE OF THE MARKET.

The arrivals of English beasts being large, and the wea-
ther being unfavourable for slaughtering, the demand for
all breeds ruled heavy, nevertheless, compared with Mon-
day last,
_no quotable change took place in prices. The
best Scots and crosses sold at 5s per glb.
The arrivals of beasts from Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,
and Northamptonshire wore about 2,800 short-horns, &c. ;
from Norfolk Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire, 2,000
Scots and crosses; from other parts of England, 700 vari-
ous breeds; from Scotland, 1,320 Scots and crosses; and
from Ireland, 650 oxen, cows, &c.
Really prime Down and half-bred sheep were in fair
request, at full prices; but all other breeds wore very dull,
at slightly depressed currencies. The top figure was 5s
per 81b.

Calves—the show of which was limited—moved off
slowly, at late ratos, viz., from 4s 4d to 5s 4d per 81b.
There was a moderato sale for prime small pigs, at last
week's prices. Large pigs, however, were very dull. Tho
highest figure was 4s 2d per 81b.
Per 81bs. to sink the offal.

Bclsd a d s d
Crse & inf. beasts... 3 4 3 6 Pme ors-wool sheep 4 4 4 8
Second quality do ..3 8 4 0 Prime S'thdown d 0.4 10 5 i
Prime large oxen ..1 2 I 6 Large coarse calves.l 4 4 8
Prime Scots, &o. •• • 4 8 5 0 Prime small d0......4 10 5 4
Crse. and inf. sheep. 3 4 3 8 Large hogs ...3 4 3 8
Second quality do ..3 10 4 2 Small porkers 3 1' 4 2
Suckling calves, 23s to 26s ; and quarter old-store pigs, 23s
to 26s each.

Head of stock on sale.
Total supply. Foreign supply.
Beasts B,llO Beasts ....... 1,350
Cows
******** C0w5.....
Sheep and lambs ****** 20,840 Sheep and limbs 7 VO
Caires 214 CWrea ... 207
rigs 420 flax
COMPARISON' OF THE " GREAT DAYS."
Statement showing the supplies and prices of fat stock
exhibited and disposed of on the "great days" in 1866
and 1867:

1866.

1867.

s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
Coarse and inferior beasts 3 Bto 3 10 ... 3 4to 3 6
Second quality ditto
Prime large oxen 2 10 to 4 2 ... 4 2to 4 6
Prime Scots., (te 4 4to 5 6 ... 4 Bto 5 0
Coarse and inferior sheep 3 10 to 4 2 ... 3 4to 3 8
Second quality ditto
Prime coarse woolled ditto 5 2to 5.10 ... 4 4to 4 8
Prime Southdown ditto 6oto 6 4 ... 410 to 5 0
Large coarse calves 4 Bto 5 0 ... 4 3to 4 8
Primo small ditto
Sucking calves (each) 20 oto 23 0 ...23 oto 26 0
Large Hogs 3 sto 4 0 ... 3 4to 3 8
Small porkers
Quarter-olds (nob) 27 oto3o 0 ... 23 0t026 0

Burma= ox SALE.
Doe. 17, Dec. 16,
1866. 1867.
7,340 8,110
19,120 20,840
200 218
81a 420

Beasts
Sheep
Calves

Pigs

IIIARKETS:-(2 his Day.)

MARK LANG.

At the country markets held on Saturday there were
only moderate supplies of wheat on offer, and generally in
but poor condition. In most instances, selected runs sold
at is per quarter advance, and there was a fair sale for the
more inferior qualities. Barley and other produce also
fetched full values.

On the Continent, the markets have ruled steady, at
about late rates. Tha latest postal advices from America
report less animation in the trade, and a drooping tendency
in prices. The stock was on the increase.

Last week's imports of foreign and colonial produce into
Loudon were as follow :—wheat, 54,684 qrs ; barley, 10,038;
oats, 61,707; beans, 75; peas, 7,742; taros, 2,375; lin-
seed, 3,405; rapeseed, 8,995 ; maize, 229 ; bundry seeds,
197 ; flour, 309 sacks and 56,876 brls.

Tho receipts of English wheat fresh up to our market
t oday, coastwise and by land carriage, were limited and in
very middling condition. Although the demand was by
no moans active, most of the stands were cleared at prices
equal to Monday last.

The show of foreign wheat was on the increase. Sides
were somewhat restricted ; nevertheless, late rates were
supported. A large portion of the late arrivals has been
landed in warehouse.

Floating cargoes of grain commanded very little atten-
tion.

malting barley m9Yt,cl Qff freely, et 97LttalAilr9 cur-

The ;past season having boon very favourable for the
production of live stock in all parts of the United King-
dom, and the cattle disease having ceased to commit its
ravages, there was a wonderfully fine and even collection
of beasts for Christmas consumption here to-day. All
breeds were fully represented, but it is somewhat curious
to note the changes in this market during the
.last few
years. Formerly Smithfield was almost wholly supplied
with pure breeds, whether producA in England.or Scot-
land. Now, however, those breeds have given way to
crcsses, many very good, but some doubtful as regards
real stamina. The rapidity with which crosses almost
generally are brought to heavy weights, and the strong
prices realised for them, have in a measure completely
changed the character of this market. The shorthorns
have now spread themselves over nearly lhe whole of
England for• crossing purposes, and throughout Scotland

. .
there are very few pure breeds left. The extent of future
crossings will depend upon price. At present the bree 'era
and feeders are unanimous upon one point, viz„ that cross
breds pay more than pure breeds. The number of shorthorns
and crosses have this morning represonted more than a
moiety of the total supply. As regards numerical strength
and prime quality, the Herefords came next, and not a few
of them were of great weight. The number of DeVOl23
shown was equal to last year, and a finer lot of animals
from the west of England has been seldom witnessed in
this market. Of Welsh breeds the show was small ; they