The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-05 00:00:00

THE NEIGItOOCnIIOOn OF GLOUCESTER, Aug. I.—We
have now arrived at the most important period of the agri- '
cultural year. Hitherto there has been no appearance of
those destructive blights which for several years have
almost destroyed our spring crops, and we are consequently
enabltal to report more favourably of the state of the
present crops. The weather was most suitable for the
wheat blossoming, and until the 23rd of the last month it
was looking admirably. but on that day we had very heavy
rain, which much laid the heavy portion of it; and the
wabiequawaintat weather assitos taw, that shoold Sissnaranga
soon be a favourable change the quality will be materially
affected. In a few instances reaping has commenced, but
will not be general until about the Bth : an average yield is
calculated upon. Barley, of which a smaller breadth than
usual is planted, is looking well, and promises more than
an average. Beaus and peas are promising more than for
many years, ISI9 excepted.
ESSEX.—NEIO II ItHOOD OF WITH AM, August 2.
Our crops are fast approaching maturity; some have
already been severed, and hart cst.nar will become general
sluraag the ensuing week, when the effects from the un-
genial season since the commencement of March, and the
suddea and more recent alternations of temperature doling
the past month, will be evident ; and it is to be feared in-
juriea to a fur greater extent will appear than has hitherto
been predicted, and that the present crop of wheat will
fall In some instances considerably below the average.
Some of the earliest wheats are dying kindly, and where
nut root-fallen or blown by the recent storms
a good sample may be expected, as blight and
mildew, although partial, base not appeared to
that extent which last season reduced the wheats
from three to live bushels per acre below the average, and
had even a much greater effect tape's the. barley crop, which
is at present free ; and those cowls in November are likely
to succeed better than was anticipated after the deluge of
rain in March, which has seriona'y affected the apring-sown,
and, although the wimple may he good, a great crop is not
to Is expected. .Wi,,wr beans and early-sown peas will
exceed en average, but the later varieties are not quite so
productive. Oats are going out of cultivation, and the few
sown, including the winter varieties, arc exceedingly par-
tial. The weather during the week has been unsettled,
accompanied with violent storms; this morning is line, with
a light breeee from the north, and the barometer is rising,
; indicating a more settled atmosphere, which is now all-im-
portant and most desirable.—Around Chelmsford, says the
user !Icrald, the past week made a great chance in the
appearance of the wheat crop, and the brown and ripened
appearance of the ear inviting the sickle' the harvest cons •
• menceil generally yesterday (Monday, Aug. 4) in this
vicinity, with the most satisfactory prospects as to the
I weather, and plenty of lanour:rs at command. Peas in
many districts are cut, and a few fields are already cleared.
: (In the whole the crops are spoken of as good; in the
Iloothings they appear fine and heavy, and though the
wheats in some parts of the county are here and there laid
s by the late heavy storms, they do nut appear to have sof
fered to any great extent.
IRELAND.
- .

Tut: POTATOES.—WeiI:4;;;;ICI;IICaIt showers of rain at
intervals during the week. The crops are looking well
throughout the district. The potato crop has recovered
from the effect of the high wind of the previous, week, and
it now looks green and healthy.—Drughedo Argus.—
The weather still continues propitious, and the crops are
progressing as favourably as could be desired. We have not
heard a single complaint of tailute of the potato crop iu
this locality. The wheat crop is expected to be unusually
productive this harvest.—Tipperary Free Press.—
1.7 p t) the time of this present publication, we arc happy to
be enabled to state that scarcely a sign of the potato disease
has fluids its appearanee in the neighbohrhood.— Totten
Ilerahl.—We have taken considerable trouble to ascertuiu
correctly the present condition of the potato crop, and it
affords us much pleasure to be able to state that in this dis-
trict we have every prospect of a large and abundant crop.
In some localities we have noticed the blight on the stalks,
but the tubers appear perfectly sound as yet. We trust
that nothing will tend to spread the disease., as there is tar
more than a usual overage crop of potatoes sown this year.
—ll.r. ford Chronicle.

MINES AND METALS.

(From the Daily Nies.) •••
23
The neeonnts just received from the mining dig- St.'
tricts of California, both north and south, represent
the operations as being very successful. There is 40
more activity, and more gold is probably being got 304
out than at any former period in the history of the
Californian mines. 3o •
The various species of mining now pursued are—
washing on the banks of the various streams dammed 20
up or led off for that purpose ; " coyotting," or dig-
ging into the earth frontline pocket to another,"being Is
the rude application of a scientific principle ; tunnel- in
ing the hills, a system which has proved inmiensely
profitable ; and crushing the auriferous quartz, the SO
YUMMY of which depends as well on skill and nimbi-
ncry as on the richness of the ore. The operations
of washing surface gold in the "gulches" and ra-
vines is nut so extensively pursued as formerly, nor 1111
is it by anymeaus so profitable. This systemof mining ea
is now wholly confined to the northern mines ;
quartz mining, and the " coyote" principle obtain 111
utmost altogether in the southern mines, and in that •
region are the most productive quartz mines yet s
opened. The Stockton and Aspinwall mines, worked I,
must industriously and economically, have wholly
failed ; although, if located in the Atlantic states, 531
where labour is cheap, they might have proved toler-
ably remunerative. iii
Slimy new veins are stated to be opened every ae
day, and new machinery is being put in operation
over the southern region, in Tuolumne, Calaveras,
and Mariposa. Several veins will undoubtedly prove
levy productive, and as the mining operations ex-
tend, new lodes will be discovered. 'the ledge of
quartz, in which the gold is embedded, is stated to
extend through the whole length of the state, and
even into Lower California. turther investigations,
pushed into the lower districts, will develop new veins
of ore ; and already in Los Angeles County there is a
quartz vein of very great richness. In the county of
Monterey there is very little mining enterprise, but
mines of silver and copper are known to exist, and
will in time attract the attention of those having
capital to work them. Several other gold mines in
the lower counties will be developed to the full ex-
tent of their riches by those at present working
them, and that they will enrich their owners is
almost beyond problem.
A silver mine has been recently discovered at a
point in the mountains, about eighty miles in a
northeast direction from Loa Angeles. This mine
was discovered by a German several months since; in
richness and extent it is said to be equal if not
superior to any silver mine yet discovered. Its ore
has been carefully assayed by competent men, one of
whom has been already engaged by the company at a
salary of 12,000 dollars per annum. The fortunate
German who discovered the mine is reported to have
sold twenty-seven shares at 5,000 dollars each.
New York, July 22.—1 n copper, new sheathing is
in brisk demand, with sales of 30 cases Bristol in
suits, at 21c. ; yellow metal is steady at 161, six
months ; of old copper 20,0001ba. have changed hands
at 19c. to 191 c. cash. The market for iron remains
as before noted, with further sales of Scotch pig at
previous quotations. English bars are very dull.
Lead remains inactive, but sales are reported of 300
to 600 pigs Galena at 4 dols. 73c.; and a small lot
of Spanish 4 dols. 60c. cash. In tin, Bence is held
firmly, and prices tend upward; 100 slabs brought
211 e., six months.
Hamburg dates of Friday mention no particular
movement during the week in the lead and copper
market, prices remaining unaltered. Tin was Wiber,,
banes finding buyers at 81 sch., whilst for while
East Indian fit sch. was paid. In spelter, the busi-
ness of the week was limited to 1,500 cwt. on the
spot at 9 marks 11 sch.
Itotterdam letters quote the price of banes tin
steady at 49 florins, at which figure 1,070 slabs had
changed hands during the week.