The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-24 00:00:00

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Mr. James Sanderson writes to The TtMett :

"The numerous predictions of an early harvest this
year have not been fulfilled. The alinost continuous
rainfall during the last fortnight has greatly retarded
the maturing of the crops' and even with the most
favourable weather, harvest will not be general in the
Southern, Eastern, and Midland counties before the
middle of August. The wheat crop has suffered
severely from the heavy rains of the present
week, and is more twisted and beaten down than
any crop since 1860. On the extensive Fen
area—usually the best wheat-producing area—the
damage is very serious. The crop is laid flat to
the ground, as if rotted, and the finest weather will
not raise it again. Wheat, generally, is thinly planted,
and apart from the damage by rain its yield would
have been short of the greatly over-estimated crop of
last year. As it is, the yield must be under average,
and the quality inferior. From the excess of moisture
and the absence of bright sunshine, rust is prevalent.
I have, during the last few days, examined a large area
in perks, Kent, Lincoln, and Northampton, and saw
no fields free of this disease. Partly from the low
price of wheat, but chiefly from the almost total
failure of seeds last year, the breadth of land under
wheat is below the average: while that under
barley, peas, and beans, is unusually large.
Barley is a bulky crop, and with favourable
weather will produce more than an average yield.
The bean and pea crops are also above the
average. From the destructive ravages of a worm
which has eaten the centre roots, the oat crop up to
the middle of June did not promise more irhan half the
usual yield, and, although recent rains have greatly
improved it, this cereal is considerably under the
average. Potatoes promised to be a great crop, but in
several districts disease has already made its appear-
ance. About one-third of the hay crop has been
damaged. This is the more to be regretted oil account
of the old hay and straw having been entirely con-
sumed. Fortunately, the abundant pastures and ex-
cellent root crops will in some measure compensate
for a short and damaged hay crop."

The Magnet of Monday also says :—" The weather dur-
ing the past week has been very ominous of bad results to
the approaching harvest. Instead of brilliant sun-
shine we have had a conjunction of circumstances
most unfavourable for the crops. There have been un-
usually heavy rains, accompanied by floods which
although not nearly so disastrous as those which have
occurred in France and Hungary have caused much
mischief, and a sad deterioration of prospects. What-
ever may be the merits of a 'dripping June,'
a wet July is by no means an acquisition to he
desired, as a late harvest is not only foreshadowed,
but it is just the time when a dry, warm, still atmos-
phere is urgently needed in order to bring the crops to
maturity. To what extent the wheat has suffered it is
impossible so far to ascertain ; still, allowing for a cer-
tain amount of exaggeration which has doubtless more
or less entered into all reports, the fact remains un-
challenged that heavy losses have been sustained, whilst
if the rains continue they will be still larger. The
crops have in many places been beaten down and laid.
The weather of the past few days has certainly pf ought
about a great change for the'worse in the prospects of
the wheat crop, both in respect to quality and quantity.
As a matter of course, the hay has greatly deteriorated.
That which had been cut before the rains, and had been
allowed to lie in the fields, has been completely spoilt,
and in the flooded districts the uncut grass has been
greatly deteriorated in quality; in others, however, a
good aftermath may be secured. The root crops have
been benefitte,d by the superabundant moisture, and
'appeararicd offbrs the sole redeeming feature in
an otherwise gloomy picture. From the Continent

their

accounts are for the moment rather conflicting. There
appears to be but little doubt that the yield in France
will be deficient and the quality indifferent. Russian
accounts are very unsatisfactory; and in Germany and
Austria there is plenty of room for improvement.
American advices do not allude to any new feature."