The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-31 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN HARVEST.

An American agricultural journal for July 10 pub-
lishes upwards of a thousand reports from contributors
in every part of the United States and Canada on the
harvest of the year. An analysis of these returns
shows that the crops this year will be very good indeed.
Here and there deficiencies, and even failures, of one
crop or another occur • but even in these sections other
crops are excellent, while the outlook for the country
as a whole is emphatically good for nearly every crop
except hay, which nearly everywhere has been ren-
dered very short by the killing of clover last winter
and the severe drought during the past spring and
summer. Owing to the increased acreage under both
winter and spring wheats and the' fine condition of
both crops as a whole, there is now no doubt but last
year's aggregate product of nearly 450,000,000 bushels
(56,250,000 qrs.) will be considerably exceeded this
year, while the quality of the grain from prsscalt in-
dications will be better.

In commenting upon the American harvest pros-
pects, the Daily Telegraph says
From all sides we have tidings of bright harvest prospects,
and we hardly know whether to congratulate the British
agriculturist or not upon the fact. The cheering home
reports are somewhat neutralised by the information that
from every State of the American Republic there come
despatches assuring us that the Transatlantic yield of grain
will this year be unpreeedehtedly high. The result has been
that the price of wheat has fallen to 435. 6d. a quarter, and
it has been many a year since it was so cheap. Now, the
average price of production for wheat all over the United
States is 20s. a quarter, and it to that be added 103.
for cost of transit to Liverpool—a very liberal allow-
ance—we see what margin of profit Americans must have
in selling here for 435. 6d. It is 13s. 6d. a quarter.
But then 435. 6d. a quarter is just a little lower than the
minimum cost of producing wheat in England; and hence
it is to be feared that, in spite of the fine prospects, the
British farmer has a cruelly hard time in store for him, even
if prices fall no lower than the present rate. In Dakota
where wheat is manufactured on a grand scale by machinery,
they can grow it at rates varying between 12s. 6d. and Hs. a
quarter ; and, after selling the grain at Liverpool just under
the bare cost of its production in England, make a profit of
£4 10s. an acre on their land. That, at least, is the estimate
of a most eminent American writer on the subject.

STATISTICS OF EMIGRATION.
The returns made up to the end of June shows
that during that month 88 ships left the Mersey,
with 20,757 emigrants. Of these 7,840 were English,
220 Scotch, 3,679 Irish, 8,832 foreign, and the
nationalities of 186 were not known. On the
whole, 17,505 were bound for the United States, while
3,023 sailed for British North America, 106 to South
America, 67 to the East Indies, three to the West
Indies, six to China. and 31 for the West Coast of
Africa. There is a 'decrease of 8,535 as compared
with the previous month, but the emigrants were
9,206 more than in June last year. During the last
three months the number of emigrants who left
Liverpool was 79,540, being 40,000 more than left
Liverpool in the second quarter of last year.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE PRIZES AT
WIMBLEDON.

The Wimbledon meeting was brought to a conclu-
sion last Saturday by the presentation of the prizes by
her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, who was
accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Princesses
of the family and the Duke of Cambridge.

The Royal party drove into the enclosure shortly
after four o'clock, where they were received by the
Earl and Countess of Stanhope, Colonel Loyd-
Lindsay, Colonel Stephens, Colonel Oxley, Captain
St. John Mildrcay, the Secretary of the Association,
and other members of the Council. There were also
present on the ground the Speaker, Mr. Childers, Sir
Stafford Northcote, Colonel North, Earl Waldegrave,
and others. The guard of honour, consisting of 100
men, under the command of Captain Swanston, was
furnished by the London Scottish. Just before the
presentation of the prizes, Captain Harris was pre-
sented by her Royal Highness with the Medal of St.
John of Jerusalem for having gallantly saved the
lives of five persons at a fire in Dublin.
Shortly after a quarter-past four o'clock, the Prin-
cess of Wales took her station on the raised dais,
having the Prince of Wales on her left and the Duke
of Cambridge on her right. Her Royal Highness was
dressed in a silk costume of dark olive green with buff
spots, trimmed withlace, her bonnet being made of
the same materials. On the platform were the
Duchess of Teck, the Countess Stanhope, Mrs.
Mildmay, and many other ladies. The prize-winners
were drawn up on the right of the dais, which they
mounted to receive their prizes.—We give the follow-
ing account of the distribution of the prizes from he
Times :

The first called upon to receive the reward of his I
skill was Lieutenant Baker, of the 3rd Middlesex, who
was one of the five who had made the highest score in
the St. Leger.
Quartermaster Cortis of the 2nd Sussex, a well-
known Wimbledon shot, who has sevefal times made
the highest possible score in different competitions ht
the course of the meeting, was loudly cheered on
coming forward to receive his Wills Prize. Major
Pearse of the 4th Devon, and Sergeant Pullman, of
the 21;1 Middlesex, were also well received on being
presented with the "John Hall" prizes.
Lieutenant Edge, 2nd Notts, and Private Chig,nell,
38th Middlesex, took the Armourers' Company prizes.
Lieutenant M'Kerrell, of the London Scottish, was
loudly cheered .on mounting the platform to receive
the first prize in the "Pavilion."
Private M'Kenzie, of the 10th Forfar, was pre-
sented with the first prize in the "Glen Albyn."
Quartermaster Cortis again came for ward to take
the first prize in the "Windmill" and in the "Snider
Trial Stakes."

Corporal Milroy was presented with the Martin's
Challenge Cup and Corporal Rothon with the first
prize in the "Graphic." .

Mr. Farrow of the United States, in coming forward
to receive the "Any Rifle Wimbledon Cup,' was in-
troduced to her Royal Highness by Earl Stanhope,
who explained to her that others of the American team
had won valuable prizes during the meeting, but as
they were still shooting in the British and American
match they were unable to attend to receive them
from her hands. Mr. Farrow was loudly cheered as
he carried off his handsome prize.
The "Army and Navy Challenge Cup " is a massive
two-handled cup in bright silver, of the value of £lOO,
manufactured by Messrs. Elkington. It was pre-
sented to Sergeant Instructor Bonner, of the 55th
Foot, with £2O in money.
The second squad of the South Middlesex attended
to receive the Mappin Brothers' cup, goblets, and
first money prize.
•The representatives of the 3rd Lanark received the
Belgian Challenge Cup for volley firing. Captain
Johnson, of Lanark, received the China Challenge
Cup. The latter cup is a curious specimen of Chinese
workmanship, it being a very large dull silver vase, of
the value of £525, designed and manufactured in
Canton by Chinese artists, and it is presented by the
Volunteers of China for annual competition at Wim-
bledon by the "county tens."
Earl Waldegrave, as the representative of Eton,
was loudly cheered on being presented with the
Veteran Trophy, the Prince of Wales warmly shaking
him by the hand.
The Eaton team were congratulated OR having car-
ried off the Ashburton Challenge hield.
A few kindly words were said by the Prince to
Private Elliott, of Marlborough, who had won the
" Spencer " Cup, a handsome two-handled cup of the
value of

The Chancellor's Challenge Plate was again re-
ceived by the representatives of Cambridge. This
prize consists of a large tankard, with a cylindrical
body of bright silver adorned with figures of fauns
and boys playing and dancing, parcel gilt, manufac-
tured by Lambert.
The Rajah of Kolapore's Cup was presented to the
team of the mother country, the representatives of
Canada. headed by Colonel Williams, receiving the
"Colonial Prize" of £BO amid much cheering.
Corporal King, of the 3rd Wilts, then came up to
receive the St. George's Challenge Vase, the Gold
Jewel, the Dragon Cup, and the first money prize of
£3O. The nature of the competition was explained
by Colonel Loyd-Lindsay to her Royal Highness,
who admired the beauty of the vase. The fortunate
winner received the hearty applause of his brother
Volunteers on receiving the prize.
Private Duncan, of the London Scottish, was pre-
sented with the Silver Jewel and second prize in the
same competition.
Lieutenant Mitchell, of the Ist Cumberland, was
much cheered on receiving the first prize in the Snider
Aggregate, the second prize in the Martini-Henry
Aggregate, and the Grand Aggregate and Dominion
of Canada Challenge Trophy. His Royal Highness,
after examining the Challenge Trophy, which was
Presented to the National Rifle Association by the
Council of the Dominion Rifle Association, expressed
the opinion that it was very handsome.
Loud and prolonged cheering greeted the Speaker
of the House of Commons as he mounted the platform
t‘i receive the " Vizianagrarn Challenge Cup," pre-
sented by, the late Maharajah of Vizianagram,
K.C.5.1., to be shot for by the Lords and Commons
at the annual prize meetings of the National Rifle
Association. This year the match was won by the
Clmmons, and consequently the prize will be held for
the year by the Speaker—the Lord Chancellor holding
it whem the Lords win. Some amusement was created
by the Speaker attempting to carry off the two large
silver vases, of which the prize consists, and eventually
he had to avail himself of the assistance of Colonel
Loyd-Lindsay in taking them from the Princess, who,
laughing heartily, stepped forward and herself pre-
vented one of the vases from falling.
The National Challenge Trophy was received by the
representatives of England.
The Elcho Shield was won this year by Ireland by
one point. The shield on the present occasion was
not removed from its place, Captain Mildmay explain-
ing to the Princess that the Irish team, who had won
it, were engaged in shooting against the Americans.
Captain Hall, of the 22nd Foot, received the Prince
of Wales prize of £lOO, his Royal Highness con-
gratulating him upon his success.
Private Ferguson, of the Ist Argyll, was loudly
cheered on coming up to receive the grand prize of the
meeting, that of £250, the gift of her Majesty the
Queen, and the gold medal and badge of the Associa-
tion, the band playing, "See the Conquering Hero
comes." The Prince of Wales, addressing the winner,
congratulated him on the triumph he had obtained.
For the second time in succession the winner of the
Queen's Prize was not presented on behalf of the
Secretary at War with the rifle with which he had ob-
tained his honours,

The 2nd Bucks Yeomanry, the Ist Ayr Yeomanry,
and the Ist Bucks Yeomanry received respectively
the three prizes in the Loyd-Lindsay competition ;
and the sth Dragoon Guards, the 11th Hussars, and
the 7th Dragoon Guards those attached to the Cam-
bridge Challenge Trophy.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Earl Stanhope
thanked the Princess for the honour she had done the
Volunteers in presenting the prizes.
Her Royal Highness replied that she was very glad
that she had come.
Private Humphry, of Cambridge University,
Major Young, 39th Middlesex, and others who were
entitled to important prizes, were unable to be pre-
sent to receive them at the hands of the Prilicess in
consequence of their being engaged in shooting in the
British team at the time.

The Royal party shortly afterwards drove away
amid loud cheering, and so the Wimbledon meeting
for 1880 came to an end.