The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-07 00:00:00

THE HARVEST.

BEDFORDSHIRE.—A good harvest has been well
secured. The beans and peas are by no means good, but
vary greatly ; in some eases, we should say, a good two-
thirds of a crop ; in other instances but a moiety; and in
partial spots, the peas are scarcely worth threslang. The
turnips have improved by the rains, but are not generally
looking well. On the gravels they are mildewed, and in many
cum are groped very much, showing a poor, unhealthy ap-
pearance ; while on the chalky soils they are but • partial
plant, and thaw greatly damaged by the earwigs, which, per-
haps were never so numerous. The early-sown Swedes,
where highly farmed and lea, open, present a pretty even
appearance; but taken together, the chances are against an
average crop. It is too early, however, yet to come to any
final conclusion as to turnips, so much depending as to bow
they may progress for the next two or three months. The
Languid wurtzel ia generally a good crop ; some very fine.
The more important root has yet to be named—potatoes, and
we are happy to have to report, that, although disease has
here and there shown itself, we are of opinion that it is by no
weans so general or severe as last year ; besides which, the
yield is likely to be twice se large.
BERIC9.--The principal part of the corn is stored, and by
the end of the week the baguet I'M be completed in this
part of the country. We never had more beautiful weather
for the harvest, and we ought to be truly thankful to Pro-
vidence. All but a few, who were impatient, have secured
their corn in excellent condition. The dry and parching
weather has stopped the growth of all vegetable., and all the
dry meadows and the young grass in the stubble', and even
the tan foin, are drying up, so that sheep keep is become
very scarce, and many persons are selling their sheep and
disposing of a part of their stock for want of food to keep
them. The turnip crop will, we fear, be a very poor one,
and many which had been hoed out and looked se very
promisieg, have been lately injured by the grus at the root.
The turnips sown since the commencement of July have
been rutty dried up with the hot wzather, and eaten with
the fly, and at the present time the prospect of the bulk of
the turnips is anything but a good one. Some of the swedes
have been injured with the grub, and are too thin in the
plant; the dry weather has been much against their
growth, and we fear that the crop will not be a very good
one, but of course much will depend on the weather that we
may bare in the autumn. The mangold wurtsel has stood
the dry weather better than any other plant, and the crop is
a fair one, but there is not a la breadth of land planted
with this root in this part. The black spots have again
made their appearance on the leaves of the potatoes, and
about ten days ago there was every appearance of the crop
rotting immediately, and many persons began digging them
up as fast as they could, but the disease stopped all at once,
and the mischief extended no farther ; and although in most
places there are a few injured potatoes, there is not at present
much reason to complain.
Benwicx.—We have had soother week of most .splendid
weather for the harvest, which is progressing rapidly and
eatisfactorily in this quarter. Already many have finished
cutting, and carrying to a great extent has been in operation
this week. The crops are bulky and abundant. The
samples of wheat and barley remind us more of the crop of
1815 than any one we have had since, such is the peculiar
fineness and richness of their quality and appearance.
Ilhould the weather eontnue fine, the greater part of the
crop will be cut down here and secured by the end of the
week. The turnips are still thriving, but in dry situation'
are much in want of rain.
CIkME son BRAES or Ciowarz.—Barley harvest com-
menced se early as the 4th of August, and maay fields of
wheat were cut down by the middle of the mouth. After
an extremely backward spring, the harvest is amongst the
earliest on record, keeping out of view suchextraordinary
seasons as that of 1825. Reaping is nearly finished on Cane
and Brae, and far advanced amongst the bills. With run-
'bine and drying winds harvest operations have gone on
uninterruptedly. Many barn-yards are already filed, and
Cane farmers speak of the crop as ono of the bulkiest they
ever secured. The ears arc well filled, and the samples of
grain will be firm and fine. The quantity of wheat will, on
the whole, be slightly lessened in consequence of injury done
by the wheat fly. Turnips are much in want of rain, and
those on esrly-sown fields seem slmost to have set growing.
DETONSIII/12.—The corn harvest in this county, with the
exception of some districts near the moors, may now be con-
sidered almost fini.hed. Most reports concur in stating the
yield to be good ; and, though not, perhaps, quite equal in
were' ht to the crop of 1846 ; yet, from the greater breadth of
Lad in wheat, it has proved considerably more productive.
The potato crop is also good ; for, notwithstanding the par-
re-appeanace of the disease, which has manifested itself,
though but slightly, in some districts, there is goo/ prospect
et an abundant supply.
Burr. —Never do we recollect the whole of the corn to
have been put together in finer condition, or with less ex-
pense. Many farmers have commenced' threshing their
wheat, and the yield is spoken of as very good—so much so
Nat the produce might be expected to be extraordinary, but
if would be premature to assert this until threshing is farther
r:,,erfl- There can be no doubt, however, that there will
De full average crop as to quantity, though the quality may
"bt to nod as last year. The barley crops will likewise
be abundant, an4 in most Instances of good sample.