June !7, 1809.
THE ESTATES GAZETTE
1060
the yields for 1898 are recorded as : Wheat 119, barley 108, oats 106, potatoes 107, turnips and swedes 89, clover hay 121, meadow hay 127. From this it will be seen that every crop, except roots, was above the average, the wheat and hay crops being exceptionally high.
Lincolnshire grows the largest acreage of wheat, 207,425 acres, Westmorland only contributing 225 acres. As a root county Lincolnshire again comes out top with 125,619 acres of turnips and swedes, Norfolk running it close, however, with 120,796 acres. The West Riding of Yorkshire has the largest area in permanent pasture, or grass not broken up in rotation, 818,097 acres, Somerset following as a pastoral county, and then Devon. The greatest number of horses is found in Lincolnshire, 72,460, Norfolk following here as in the root area. The West Riding of Yorkshire contains the most horned-cattle of all ages, 266,565, whilst Devon is but little behind with 266,144. The sheep stock in Lincolnshire reaches the immense total of 1,203,677 ; Suffolk comes to the fore as a pig county with 144,763, Somerset and Devon following closely. Devonshire has the largest area of orchards, 27,136 acres being devoted to apple and other fruit orchards. Hereford, Kent, Somerset and Worcester are the other large contributors.
The total area of land and water—not including foreshore and tidal water—in England is 32,541,836 acres. Coming to the yields of crops per acre, Lincolnshire is returned as the best wheat-growing county in England, with an average for 1898—which, of course, was an exceptionally good wheat year—of 38-59 bushels per acre. Monmouthshire is the lowest, with the very poor average of 25 72 bushels. The average throughout England is 3476־ bushels per acre, whilst Scotland works out at 42-47 bushels.
For barley, Kent shows the greatest fertility, with 39’56 bushels per acre, Lancashire and Northumberland being each over 39 bushels per acre. The average for England is 35'44 bushels, Scotland again leading with 3907׳ bushels.
Lincolnshire runs out top again for oats, with an average yield of 54-03 bushels, whilst Monmouthshire can only produce an average of 3413־ bushels. In this cereal we can beat Scotland by a good bit, being nearly 7 bushels per acre above their average—43-49 as against 36-87 bushels. Bedfordshire is the county for potatoes, leading the way with an average yield of 8-22 tons per acre, no other county reaching the eight tons ; Wiltshire, where one would not expect to find such suitable soil for the tubers, comes in second place with a trifle over 7| tons. For turnips, Lancashire grows an average of 1741־ tons per acre, Westmorland 17 02, whilst Berkshire—where the drought was felt so badly last year—only produced 4 61 ton8 per acre.
Westmorland had the heaviest cut of clover hay last year, with the extraordinary average of 52-03 cwt. per acre. What must some of the heavier crops have been to make up such an average as this ? Cumberland 4716־ cwt., Lancashire 46 cwt., and Westmorland again tops the tree for hay from permanent pasture with an average yield of 4664־ cwt. per acre. The average price of an imperial bushel of British corn for the year ending Christmas, 1898, was wheat 4s. 3d., barley 3«. 4Jd., oats 2s. 311.
The imports during 1898 show a decrease in the number of live cattle, as compared with the previous year ; but an increase in sheep and pigs. Butter, margarine and cheese show a decrease from 1897. The importation of milk, both fresh and condensed, was greater in 1898 ; and the importation of wheit was considerably greater than in 1897. The Tables of Agricultural Statistics given for India, the colonies, and foreign countries are numerous, and contain a great deal of information of the same description as that compiled for our own country, but hardly require commenting on here.
The weather continues fine and dry, though local thunderstorms have occurred in many parts to refresh the ground, which is everywhere presenting rather a parched appearance. Those who have commenced haymaking may not be over-anxious for a change in the weather ; Dut the general wish throughout the country is for a fall of rain. If this weather continues we shall have another root crop failure, as last year. Haymaking has commenced, but is not in full swing yet. Beans are looking exceptionally well in the west, and I have seen some excellent fields of wheat. Mangel are patchy, and do not make great progress, as they require moisture. The stock markets are inactive, and will remain so as long as this weather lasts.
and elaborately carved with spiral vases, festoons of flowers, etc., 40 guineas ; an Italian cabinet of inlaid tortoiseshell and ebony, 46 guineas ; an old German! cabinet, elaborately inlaid with Scriptural subjects, emblematic figures, etc., in engraved ivory, Nuremburg work of the last period, 160 guineas ; and a panel of old Flemish tapestry, with a procession of Roman equestrian warriors in the foreground, 49 guineas.
Pictures.
On Monday the ancient and modern pictures sold at Messrs. Christie’s included the following : —Macrino d’Arba, a triptych, with the Madonna and Child enthroned in the centre, saints and donors on either wing, signed and dated 1497, on panels, 330 guineas; Taddeo Gaddi, the Crucifixion, with numerous figures, on gold ground, on panel, 140 guineas ; K. de Moor, portrait of a lady and gentleman, with their child holding a bird, 410 guineas ; A. Yan der Neer, a village on a river, with figures, moonlight, 155 guineas ; J. B. Weenix. dead hare, partridge, and wild birds, 170 guineas; Sir J. Reynolds, portrait of a girl in brown dress, flowing hair, 850 guineas ; and a diptych of the early German school, with the Crucifixion, the three Marys, and St. John on the left, and on the right Philip Hinckaert, the donor, being presented to the Madonna and Child, on panels, 190 guineas.
Decorative Objects.
Some good prices were obtained at Messrs. Christie’s, on the 9th instant, for a few decorative objects from the collection of the laite Sir John Fowler. Among the more important items were:—A pair of old Chinese brown crackle vases, mounted with Louis XV. open handles, 9jin. high, 220 guineas ; a pair of grey crackle vases, mounted with Louis XV. handles, rims, plinths, and laurel festoons of chased ormolu,^ lOjin. high, 750 guineas; a pair of cylindrical beaker-shaped! vases and covers of old Chinese dhrk blue porcelain, mounted ־with Louis XY. handles, formed as Infant Tritons, lfi^in. high, 140 guineas; and a table ornament, formed as a _ birdcage of chased metal-gilt, the plinith inlaid with small enamel figures and landscapes in chased ormolu borders and drapery, and Dresden porcelain figures of child-z׳en in niches at the angles, and containing a musical movement, 27in. high, 2,500 guineas.
Jfarm anft JFnlii.
BY A LAND AGENT.
[SPECIALLY CONTELBUTED.]
THE AGRICULTURAL RETURNS 1898.
The agricultural returns for 1898, issued by the Board of Agriculture, is a bulky volume crammed full of information and statistics in regard to nearly every matter connected with farming in Great Bricain ; acreage and produce of crops, prices of corn, and number of live stock, also many tables of figures relating to foreign countries. Great praise is due to the department for the clear and concise form in which this enormous mass of information is given, and those in whosQ hands the compilation rests have peiformed their arduous ta־k well.
A volume of statistic# is to the average person somewhat of a nightmare, and few but those deeply interested in agriculture will do more than lightly scan (he columns of this return. To pick out a few interesting points from such a number of tables on so many various subjects is a difficult matter, but perhaps the following items gleaned from some of the statistics given may be interesting to readers of this column who do not themselves study the report.
Firstly dealing with that important factor, the weather, a brief note is given of some of the salient features of the weather of 1898, as reflected in therecordsof observations published by the Meteorological Office. The mean rainfall of the year was 309־in. as compared with a 33 years average of 344־in. ; and the mean temperature 50 degrees, as compared with an average of 485׳ degrees Fahrenheit. The mean
ifioa vi was *k® l°west recorded since 1893, while the mean temperature was exceptionally higb. These points bring back to our minds the bot and dry days of last year. There aie wide divergencies in local rainfalls. In the north and west of Scotland the year was exceptionally wet, whilst on the other hand in the east of England the rainfall during the year s mounted toionly 203׳in , being five inches under average, and in the southern counties the rainfall only amounted to 217׳in., or seven inches less than the average for tbe district.
The comparative yield of crops in Great ritain in 1898 is shown in a convenient manner by a table, in which the average of the estimated yields of the respective crops for the 1888-97 inclusive, is represented by 100 m each case, Compared with this standard
the Garter, 1671, which fetched the comparatively modest sum of £56 14s. Very beautiful were the pair of urn-shaped vases, of fine gold, chased and enamelled in blue, and with medallions of flowers painted in colours, etc., 9 ¿in. high, on enamelled gold plateau, total weight 121oz. They were sold for £1,210.
It is gratifying to learn that the authorities of Guildford Grammar School are giving their attention to their valuable collection of chained books. For years, iit is said, the volumes have been regarded, as little better than refuse and dust, mice and insects have been their principal visitors. Probably only two other (towns in England—Wimbome and'Hereford—have large! collection® of manacled books than Guildford. At present there are eighty-five chained volumes, chiefly theological works, and several of them of rarity. The library, which was enriched by a splendid gift from Bishop Park-hurst, of Norwich, over three hundred years a7°, formerly contained a Caxtom—a copy of his “History of Troy Town”—hut this ->nd several cither valuable old tomes have disappeared. Many of the chains are missing, but an appeal has been made for their restoration, should they have found their way into public or private collections.
SALES OF THE WEEK.
The Christopher Sykes Sale.
The magnificent collection of old French decorative objects, and old French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and English furniture, and ob-jects of art of the late Mr. Christopher Sykes, was dispersed at Messrs. Christie’s on the 8th and 9th instant. On both days the well-known auction rooms in King-street, St. James’s, were crowded, and the amount realised was nearly £7,000. A large oviform vase and cover of old Nankin porcelain, painted with four oval panels of ^ Court scenes, 34iru high, realised £66 ; a pair of silver-gilt sideboard disihee, the borders chased with panels of foliage, an appliqué plaque in the centre chased with subjects from Roman history, 15in. diameter, made by Paul Lamerie, 1727, 131oz., 126 guineas ; a bronze mortar, with a series of five arches formed as branches of a pain! round the ,body, dated 1445, Italian work, 5 ¿in. diameter, 4in. high, 230 guineas ; a pair of Louis XY. candlesticks of chased ormolu of scroll and flower design, curiously inlaid with panels of Chinese mazarin, blue and powdered blue _ porcelain, 12i־in. high, 125 guineas ; a Louis XY. garniture du cheminée consisting of a pair of hexagonal blue beakers, pencilled with figures and flowers in gold, and three octagonal vases, 14jin. high, £270 ; a pair of hexagonal mazarin blue vases, finely mounted, 15|in. high, 200 guineas ; a Louis XVI. clock, by Guenoux à Paris, in scroll-shape case of chased ormolu, surmounted by a figure of a child emblematic of water, 20in. high, £330 ; a Louis XY. clock by Romilly h Paris, ormolu case, surmounted by a seated figure of Europa, supported on! a bronze figure of a^ •bull, 20fin. high, 295 guineas ; a pair of Louis XV. candelabra, the stems formed as bronze figures of a male and female satyr in the style of Clodion, 13in. high, 130 guineas ; a pair of Louis XVI. candelabra, the bases formed of oviform vases of mazarin blue porcelain, richly mounted, from the mouth of the vases spring lily branches for five lights, 41iin. high, 160 guineas ; another pair, formed as bronze figures of boys, holding lily branches for four lights of chased ormolu, 35in. high, 130 guineas. Old French decorative furniture : —A Louis XIY. oval show case, gilt and carved with interlaced ribbon and beaded ornaments27 ,׳jin. high, 170 guineas ; a pair of Louis XY. carved and gilt wood guerdions on tripod scroll feet, the stems formed as terminal winged female figures, 39in. high, 105 guineas ; a Louis XV. commode of tulipwood, richly decorated with landscapes and figures in red and gold, signed E.M., 57in. wide, 37in. high, 500 guineas ; a small Louis XV. marqueterie table, handles of chased ormolu, the top inlaid with a floral design signed “De Lome,” 26in. high, llin. wide, 160 guineas ; a pair of Louis *XV. upright cabinets, inlaid with circular and square shaped panels of musical and scientific instruments and flowers, 48in. high, 19^ wide, 210 guineas ; _ a Louis XV. commode of black lacquer, enriched with a Chinese landscape, figures and buildings, richly mounted with scrolls, signed “J. Dubois,” 53in. wide, 250 guineas; another decorated with rocks, peonies and pheasants in gold and red, profusely mounted with scrolls, signed “J. Twant,” 50in. wide. 34in. high, 130 guineas ; another of dark red lacquer, profusely mounted with scrolls, shell ornaments and flowers. 50in. wide. 35in. high, 140 guineas ; a suite of Louis AY!, carved and gilt furniture, covered with old French tapestry, consisting of sofa and eight chairs. 150 guineas ; and a fire screen on carved tripod of mahogany, with small sliding panel of old French tapestry.'
53 guineas. The other furniture included: — An old English mahogany wardrobe, with folding doors, carved with vases, laurel festoons, etc., £44; an upright Chippendale mirror, gilt
lrk-a־lrat.
Tuesday was the Dickens’ day of the famous Wright collection at Messrs. Sotheby’s. The attendance was unusually large and included, in addition to the inevitable dealers, a few well-known amateur collectors and litterateurs. The first item that attracted attention was a copy of the first edition of “ The Strange Gentleman, a comic burletta in two acts,” performed at the St. James’s Theatre in 1836. The work was described as one of extreme rarity, and it realised the handsome price of 80 guineas. The next important lot was the presentation copy of the original parts of “ The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Olub.” The first 14 numbers bear the inscription, “ Mary Hogarth, from her’s affy., Charles Dickens.” Forster in his Life of Dickens, speaking of Miss Hogarth, says : — “His wife’s younger sister, Mary, who lived with them, and by sweetness of nature, even more than by grace of person, had made herself the ideal of his life, died with a terrible suddenness that for the time completely bore him down. His grief and suffering were intense, as will be seen, through many years. The publication of Pickwick was interrupted for two months ; tbe effort of writing it not being possi ble to him.” The price obtained for the work was 100 guineas.
Another first edition of “ Pickwick,” complete in the original parts, sold for £85 ; an interesting presentation copy of the first edition of “ Oliver Twist,” with autograph inscription, £50 ; a presentation copy of the first edition of “Nicholas Nickleby,” with inscription and a long and interesting letter from Charles Dickens addressed to “My dear Mrs. Hall,” £69 ; a presentation copy of the first edition of “American Notes for General Circulation,” with the inscription “ Thomas Carlyle, from Charles Dickens, Nineteenth October, 1842.” and the autograph of T. ׳Carlyle on the fly-leaf, £61; a presentation copy of the first edition of Martin Chuzzlewit, £35 ; a presentation copy of the first edition of “ A Christmas Carol,” £71 ; 1 and the original autograph manuscript of “ The Battle of Life,” the numerous׳ alterations and interpolations throughout, showing the novelist’s careful and painstaking method of work, £400.
But the most imposing lot of the day’s sale was an extra illustrated copy of Forster’s “Life of Charles Dickens,” extended from three volumes octavo to 12 volumes folio, and made up of 482 autograph letters! of celebrities (119 by Dickens himself), 445 portraits of literary and and other distinguished men, including over 100 of Charles Dickens from 18 to 58 years of age, several rare pamphlets, playbills and 200 views of places connected with Dickens and his works. This is believed to be the most elaborately extra illustrated life of Dickens ever formed, and the biddin״. which started at £210, eventually reached £500, at which price the work became the property of the eminent booksellers Messrs. Sotheran. The total of the day’s sale was £4,152 5s. However it may he with the read-ing public, this remarkable sale moves beyond a doubt that, with collectors, the works of “ the great master of laughter and tears ” were never in higher favour.
At their rooms, in Conduit-street, Messrs. Knight, Frank and Rutley sold recently an interesting parcel of old lace, etc. A cap of point d’Angleterre realised £4 ; a Homiton applique flounce, 9jin. wide, 18 guineas ; a border and cuffs for a priest’s alb in plain Venetian point lace, 9 guineas ; a Genoese cape, 9 guineas ; another cape of old Venetian lace, 15j guineas ; a Brussels flounce, 6yds., 15 guineas ; an enamelled brass tatting shuttle in old shagreen case, 7 guineas; an Elizabethan spoon," £4 ; and another, circa Charles II., £3.
On Wednesday afternoon, at their gallery in Pall Mall, Messrs. Foster sold an interesting collection of old Dutch and early English picture®. Among the more important, items were : A river scene, with buildings on the hanks, by Van Goyen, 40 guineas ; interior of a tavern, with four figures, by De Roogh, 50 guineas ; Rochester Castle, by Turner, 48 guineas ; canal scone, Venice, by Canaletto, 82 guineas : river view, by O. Fielding, 64 guineas ; a pair—portraits of a lady and gentleman, bv Sir P. Lely, 30 guineas ;/ and “ The, Salad Girl,'” hv J. Hopp-ner, 240 guineas.
The sale at Messrs. Christie’s on Monday, was remarkable on account of its including two or three articles which are seldom seen in sale rooms. The first׳ important item was the Victoria Cross awarded to John Buckley. Deputv-Assistant Com. of Ordnance, Bengal-Establish-ment, 11th May, 1857. It was sold, with the original riband, for £80. There were uhen offered the Lesser George of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, in gold, end of seventeenth or commencement of eighteenth centurv, which realised £105 ; and a gold badge of !fche instal-lation of the Elector of Saxony as Knight of