The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-07-06 00:00:00

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

lir. Thomas C. Scott, who frequently writes to The riMIR
on harvest prospects, has just scut for publication the fol-
lowing letter on Ulu subject :
-

We may now predict with some degree of certainty
that our corn hu.rvest will be a late one, however
favourable the weather may be from this time. A
mild winter and continueal. spring rains favoured rank
and premature vegetation up to the 20th May, but on
that day we had 7 deg. of frost, subsequent snow
storms, hoar frosts, and very low temperatures, which
checked the growth of everything, nipped the early
potatoes, and ruined the prospect of a fruit crop.
A bulky grass crop was then insured, and much of
it has since been converted into hay and secured.
Frini the want of grazing stock a greater area than
usual has been mowed, and there will likely be a
larger stock of fodder on hand this year than at any
former time. If root crops are heavy, which present
appearances indicate they are likely to be, it will he
utterly impossible to consume thisproduce without the
aid of a larger number of lean foreign animals. Our
reduced herds and flocks are slid being decimated by
various diseases, some of which are becoming chronic,
auil still further reduced by the unchecked slaughter of
young animals.
In a few years the want of a full stock of cattle and
sheep and the residue they leave behind them will tell
most injuriously upon our feeding pastures and old
arable lands.
- - • • •

Wheat, from its luxuriant growth during winter,
became weak and Baggy, and before the continuous
rains ceased on the 10th of Jute, much ot it was laid,
although not then out in the ear. About the middle
of the month it was generally out in ear, and for ten
days subsequently the weather was most favourable
for the blooming ; but since then there have been
storms of wind and rain, which, though more severe in
HOMO districts than in others, have knocked off much
of the bloom before it was set, and will make many
defective heads. It is not, therefore, probable that we
shall have an early harve it or an average yield.
Barley, although usually sown on the lighter soils,
has suffered several checks from the excessive rains and
' cold, but as it requires a much shorter season to ripen
than either wheat OF oats, it may yet come to be an
average, but not an early crop.
Oats have stood the vicissitudes of the weather much
better, and generally look well. Peas are certainly an
extra crop, and beans, barring autumn frosts, promise
well also.

Mr. J. J. Meat, writes from Tiptree Hall, Kelvedon, Essex,
June 2:—
--- - •

Cold, sunless, and unseasonable weather, following
upon much rain, has somewhat retarded the ripening
process, and is acting unfavourably on the crops, caus-
ing some root rotting and decay of the stems where
they issue from the ground. Very much will DOW depend
upon our having a hot, dry, seasonable July. The
abundant, though somewhat watery, gra.ss and green
crops, are, where cut. awaiting suitable weather for
carting, and, I fear, suffering in quality from too long
exposure.
31t. A very strong cluing wind and some sun-
shine are raising our 13,,pea.