The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-03 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

We have selected, from various sources, the follow-
ing information respecting the state of the weather and the
appearance of the growing crops, in several districts of Eng-
land and Scotland. The accounts from all parts of Ireland
are uniformly favourable. It is proper to observe, that sonic
of the reports from which our extracts are taken were writ-
ten before the present seasonable weather set in :
Beorininsuturt.—With slight exceptions, we have had
continued wet weather since the first week in February; and
it has been scarcely possible to do any sowing in our usual
good style. The greater part is done very badly, and very
much of the clay land filth' have become so completely
saturated that, if sown at all, oats must be substituted for
barley. It has been impossible to get in the mangold-wur-
zel, or to make the least move upm the fellows without
doing mischief. The wheat has also suffered much, es-
pecially on the undrained soils; although in other instances
it maintains a tolerably healthy appe .rance. Potatoes are
planted in some instances, but many are waiting for finer
weather. Winter Tares are generally looking well. Winter
Beans are getting into blossom. The spring-set Beans are
for the most part late ; but they come up better than could
have been expected.
BEHKSHIIIE.—Such a wet, dull, cold Aprilhes not been
know for years. The wheat appears sickly and yellow, even
on the driest Beds ; and on the wet much of it has perished,
or is choked with weeds. Very little barley has been sown.
The forward peas have grown freely. Tares and grass are
very forward; and, should the weather now become warm,
we shall have another abundant crop of hay.
CASIDELIDOESIIIILE.—The late weather has proved of
serious injury to the young wheats in the low lands; they
mostly present a yellow and sickly appearance. Much alarm
is experienced in consequence of the_4elay, by the same
cause, of the ordinary operations of thelhusbandman at this
period. It was hoped at one time that the washes would this
year have been preserved from inundation ; but the heavy
rains of Friday, 21st ult., have proved the fallacy of such an
expectation, and, as an instance of their present state, there
is at this time considerably more than two feet of water in
those of Welney.
GLorcEsrEnslllßE.—SO much rain has fallen that
apprehensions have keen entertained for the wheat crop,
but the present genial change will do much to alleviate all
anxiety. Much barley still remains unplanted, the weather
having prevented the farmer from getting upon the land,
and it consequently will be late. The beans, upon the
whole, look well and forward. The potatoes that are up
look healthy, but it would as yet be premature to advance

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an opinion.
LEICESTERSHIM—With a large amount of rain, it
must be expected that, on all cold strong soils, what corn has
been sown must have been deposited under the most unfa-
vourable circumstances; and, where the land remains un-
sown, the prospect of the future crop must be far front en-
couraging. On strong soils in particular, no progress has
been made. There has been no opportunity of stirring
them ; and some will probably remain without a crop
through the summer. Even such as are in the best state
will be late before they can be planted, except the lighter
soils. The pulse crops come up well, and the young plant
appears healthy. The barley on light lands appears to have
taken little dismay. In few seasons has the young wheat
plant been more regular on the ground, and there is very
little deficiency; still, on strong clay soils the appearance is
far from satisfactory, and the colour has no indication of
luxuriance. On the best loams the case is very different;
so that, though on the whole the prospect as regards
crop is far from good, it is. yet too early to speculate as to
final results. +"
NORTHERN DISTRICTS..-1111 the counties of Lancaster,
Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Northumberland, the ge-
neral opinion is, that the wheat crops look remarkably well,
being forward, thick on the ground, and of a meet excellent
colour. Practical agriculturists agree that the seed time this
spring was one of the most critical 4... Dander, by the sudden
transitions of the weather from dry to wet, and vice versa;
but, upon the whole, the land wee in tolerable condition for
, the reception of the grain. The barley crops which have