The Express.
London, England, 1862-04-23 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

With regard to agricultural prospects in that
county, the Suarez Advertiser says The peck of March
duet' has come in April. In our last, we spoke hopefully
of the change from rain to dry weather, though recording
the prevalence of keen and cutting winda, and of an
unusually and unseasonably low temperature. Since then
a change has taken place • the wind, which had blown from
north and north-east, veered round to the west on Wednes-
day night, and on Thursday the temperature was compara-
tively mild and genial. Still, though the wind has been
westerly, it has not a genuine April or spring character.
On the contrary, it has been boisterous lout cold, and
so drying as to bring the dust which was so anxiously
looked for in March. The result, however, has been to
produce the most satisfactory effect on the soil. Farmers
have been enabled to get to work upon the land in good
earnest, and everywhere the greeted activity has been dis-
played in getting in seed. It is to be hoped that the delay
which has taken place in this respect will not be so
dia-
advantageous as was at one time feared. The weather has
been moss propitious in drying the surface of the soil
during the past nine or ten days, and the previous reins
will doubtless prove beneficial, should a warm temperature
shortly be experienced. Indeed reporta state that a capital
seed bed has been the result of the recent weather, and it
is easy to believe, that should we shortly enjoy the
blessing of a genial spring temperature, a very brief time
will serve to compensate for put backwardness. With
regard to vegetation generally, no doubt some evil was
experienced from the frost and extremely sold winds
VI& lately prevailed, but we do not bur of any serious
densage. As a whole, vegetation is decidedly backward
fee the time of year, bat nature is doing her work never.
theless. Of the wheat crops, accounts speak favourably.
Apprehensions were beginning to be felt at the end of
March, owing to the continued wet, and the plant was in
places looking spindly and getting • yellow hue. The
=1 in the weather has already, however, done much to
anxiety on that score, and an improvement is already
visible. Altogether the general prospect is cheering, and •
very little warm weather would produce a marvellous effect.
The month of May is now so nearly at hand, that we may
' reasonably look for the desired change ere long, and when
it comes we shall rapidly forget the anxieties and delays of
I the past, and look with hopeful anticipation to the future.
The weather prophets are resolute in their predictions of •
hot summer, and if regard be had to the general 'grind-
tural aspect of the country, there is every ground to believe
that there will be ample crops for the summer's sun to ripen."
In the county of Kent (says the South•Baaters Gszette),
up to the sth of March, the weather was generally favour-
able for agricultural pursuits. A large quantity of spring
corn had been sown, and farming operations were in a for-
ward state. The remainder of March and the beginning of
April was unusually wet, and put • total stop to sowing,
so that sow, instead of being forward, we are much behind
The wheat crop, upon the whole, is looking well,
although the pleat upon the clover ays has been much
thinned by slug and wire-worm, and a great breadth has
been greatly injured in the low diatricta by being flooded.
The spring corn sown previously to the wet came up
quickly, and looked well ; but since the rain ceased, we
have had sharp frosts, and • great deal of the barley and
oats is upon • stand, looking very yellow, and fast losing
plant. The backward sown, therefore should the weather
prove genial, may be the beat when harvest arrives.. Beans
and peas arms up well on the dry. soils ; hut complaint is
made of the baud having rotted in the ground on the wet
undrained lands. The clover plant, which generally, during
the winter, did not look healthy, has suffered from the late
frosts ; and the grad, which was getting very forward, has
received a great check. Swedes and wurzel hold out better
this spring than has been usually the case, and cattle food
is now very plentiful, though sheep have done but badly
through the wet, and • great many lambs have been lost.
The sharp frosts it is feared have injured the forward
cherries ; but should the weather henceforward prove
favourable, we may yet have a fair sprinkle of fruit. The
planting of potatoes has been much delayed, but is now fad