The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-08-29 00:00:00

THE HARVEST OF IS7O.

The harvest of lti76 seems likely to turn out better
than was anticipated some weeks ago. The unusual con-
tinuance of hot weather has improved the quality of
the grain, and up to the present time has enabled it to be
garnered in first-rate condition. At the seine time, the
quantity, it is thought, will be below the average,
though indications are not wanting that on this head our
fears may be premature. According to the Mark Lane
Express, the 565. and Ss. a quarter, which were being
paid a fortnight ago, have already sunk to Its. But con-
siderable difference of opinion continues to prevail with
regard to the probable average throughout the kingdom,
though of the quality and condition the report is
universally favourable. Barley, we are told, is likely to
turn out tolerably; while beans, though very uneven,
will present an average crop. Oats appear to be the
worst of all, which, combined with the comparative
failure of the hay crop, will make the keep of horses
very expensive in the winter. Similar reports arrive
from Ireland, a great oat-growing country, so that this
branch ef the harvest must be regarded as anything but
satisfactory. With regard to the supply of labour reports
vary very much. In some districts it has been plentiful,
and there the whole wheat crop has been secured within
a single fortnight We fear, however, that this state of
things is far from universal. We hear of great scarcity
of labour in the midland and west midland counties, and
of some delay in harvest operations in consequence.
Sonic symptoms of • disposition to strike were observable
in the eastern counties at the beginning of harvest, but
fortunately soon disappeared. And we fancy that the
scarcity of labour in the districts we have mentioned is
due rather to the competition of other trades, and to the
migration of the rural population, than to any quarrel
about wages. The fact, however, by itself is remarkable,
though it is probable that the scarcity has been
exaggerated.
In one respect we fear the present season will be
palpably below the average—we mean in all green things,
whether grass, turnips, swedes, or inangold wurtxeL
There was great hope at one time that the dry weather
in July had not seriously affected them, and that even
where it had, the rain which fell about the mil of that
month would repair the injury. These hopes, however,
have been but very partially verified. In the eastern
counties, we believe, and in the north, turnips as • rule
have done well, but in the south and west they seem to
have suffered most severely, and from all quarters we
hear of burnt-up pastures and grass fields as brown as
fellows. The deficiency of grass and roots will make
beef and mutton dear, so that on the whole the prospects
for the winter are not as reassuring as we could wish.
Last spring and autumn were very unfavourable to the
preparation of land for wheat, and also to the sowing of
it, and we are now feeling the effect of the long and
heavy rains and snows which lasted into April. The
brilliant weather of July and August has done something
to counteract the damage, but we cannot expect to
escape the consequences altogether, or that the superior
quality of this year's wheat will entirely make up for
deficiency in quantity, and for the extensive failure of
our grass and other green crops.