The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-16 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

From the falling of the barometer at the com-
mencement of the week, rain seemed to be near at hand,
and such proved to be the case, for Tuesday was a very wet
day, and • great fall was experienced, which would partially
beeefit the pastareaaad do good to the barley, either cut or
standing in the fields. On that day our advice from Nor-
folk state :—" The weather Mom last Tuesday has bee.
hot and forcing ; to-day we ham bad some slight showers.
Harvesting Ur promediag rapidly ; the yield of wheat is ee-
-1 ported to he below an average ; and barley to be an average,
although deficient in quality." From Lincolnshire the
same day it was remarked :—" The weather is spleadid tor
harvest operations in these districts." From Northum-
berland the same day, our advice@ stated :—" The weather
continues very fine, and the grain mops in this district are
rapidly approaching maturity. Oar fanners have already
commenced cutting • few early patches of oats and barley."
Referring to South Lenemitize, Cheshire, and North
Wales, • party writes as under :—" On a joursay through
these counties, made yesterday, the crops of grain,
appeared to be as under. In the two former counties, the
groin crops look tolerably healthy, but generally thin on
the ground, and can only )laid lightly. Pasture and
meadow lands are bare of goat, but greener and fresher
than in some other counties. Tondos and other root crops
are partial, bat better, on the whole, thus in many parts
of Yorkshire. In the portions of Flintahire, lleabeigh-
shire, and Cermartheoshire between Chester and Bangor,
the crop are good of wheat, fair of oats and barley, with
a bright, healthy colour ; and harvest progressing slowly,
though the grain is a good deal of it reedy for cutting.
Turnips rid potatoes look much better than io many parte
of England, though them are many failing planes amongst
them. On the whole, 1 consider the farmers here are
favoured this season, thus far, and will show good rumples
of wheat, if well harvested." From Suffolk, the sear
day, it was stated :—" Wheat-cutting has generally
commenced in this district ; but no thrashing has beau
done at present. Light showers the last day or two."
From Lincolnshire, oa Wednesday, our advice, state:—
" Wheat-cutting is cow general. TM weather during the
week has been somewhat unsettled, and we have bad a
few light showers, hot nothing to stop cutting." From
Scotland, on the west coast it was remarked :—" The wea-
ther has been rather autumnal the last few days, and
very rainy.' From Nottinghamshire ort that day it was
observed During the past week the weather on the
whole has bees suitable for harvest work, and good progress
has been mad*. The yield of wheat ia expected to be pretty
fair. Barley is looking weLL Oats and beans have mi-
tered from the bog drought. We had refreshing showers
yesterday, which will prove very beneficial to the root
crops." From Suffolk, near the coast, on Thursday, our
advises stated :—" We bad several hours of nice steady rain
on Tuesday last, and • few II ying showers yesterday,
every drop of which has told. The benefit to
our &Aria is immense, but we can do well
with more moisture." From the same county, in
the interior, the advice me thus:—" Up to Tuesday morn-
ing the weather was flee and hot ; we then had rain for
eight hours, and a much lower temperature, which still con-
tinues, with oomaimal showers and • strong breeze.
Harvest work bee been carried on vigoronaly ; • large
breadth of wheat has been cut, and soma carted. At present
reports of yield only refer to whit* wheat, and are sot gear
rally satisfactory. Barley will be much bessfited by the
rain." Friday was a See dry day, and harvest work proceeded
rapidly. From the West Biding of Yorkshire our advice@
stated :—" Since Tuesday the weather has been mostly fine,
and harvest work is going on steadily, bat reapers are cot
plentiful." Saturday was • brilliabt day, very hot and
forcing, the temperature being again much higher. An im.
manse breadth of land would be cleared in all the southern
counties on that day, the corn going up in the most splendid
condition. The yield of wheat has been variously reported
on—the lowest two quarters, much three, some four, and
occasionally are quarters par acre ; but mid thrashing has
become more general, an accurate °prole.. cannot be formed
of the average yield. Farmers areyet toomrith *treed in the
harvest held to thrash freely. The opening pncem for new
wheat do riot encourage them to force on to the various
asarkota a supersbmidanoe.—Auguat 13.—liferk-lane Ex-
press.

SALISBURY AND YEOVIL RAILWAY. —The report
of thedirectors elates that the gross earnings for the half-
year were 27,465!., and for the correepooding half of 1863
24,d)61., showing an iocreassof 3,2571. The traffic for the
year ending the 30th of June last wee peal to 2841. per
mile par weak, or 59,2681., and for the year *adios the 30th
of Juts', 1863, wee 261. per mil* per week, or 54.042/.,
showing au Matisse of 21. 10s. per mile per wear, or 5,2461.
After dedootieg working expenses, governmeot duty, in-
terest, arida other charges, a balance remained of 10.1901.,
to which was added 2,3584 from the preceding ball-ear,
making an available sum of 12,557/., out of which the
directors recommended the payment of a dividend at the
rate of 3 per cent, per annum on the preference shares, and
at the rate of 44 per cent. per annum on the ordinary shares,
leaving a balance of 1,7461. The second line of rails be-
tween Bradford Abbas Junction and Yeovil was opened for
public tralßc to May last, and the doubling of the entire
remaining portion of the Noe would now be actively pro-
ceeded with. The bill empowering the company to acquire
additional lands and to TOW further capital received the
royal anent on the 23rd of June. It was proposed to wake
the dividend warmata payable on the 22nd instant. The
capita account showed that 932,7334 had been authoriser!,
of which 656,372!. bad been raised. !varies 276,3611. to he
raised. The expenditure to the 30th of June amounted to
663,9474, leaving a balance of 7,559/.
'The curious orchid " Peristeria elate," of
Panama, vadat is called the Dove plant, because the form
of a dove appears seated in the flower is now exhibited by
Kr. Bateman, in bloom, in the Weet Orchard House of the
Royal Hortkulturel Gardens at South Kessington. le this
remarkable and interesting specks the dowers are prodooed
Is a long spike of yellowish white wavy dowers, yielding •
very peculiar fragrance. In the aeighboarhood of Panama
It is known to the natives by the appellation of " el Spirito
Santo," from its resemblance to the dove, and in Roman
catholic countries it is much prised as • decoration for the
eller.