The Express.
London, England, 1848-07-18 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS

CHEtilIME.—The Hay harvest has been tolerably
well securen. Elmlleut in general is the condition of the
cereals, and we anticipate a forward honest. Ihe potato
plant is luxuriant indeed; this, however, is no guarantee
against disease. The destructive furgus is to be found in
almost every plot ; but it does not proceed in the work of des-
truction in these quarters as in some parts of England.
DZVONSHIRE.—The weather lately has been of the most
brilliant description. Haymaking has been briskly carried
on, and a large quantity has been saved in excellent condition.
The corn-tiehla are quickly changing colour ; several fields of
winter barley have been cut ; and it is believed that very few
days will elapse before some of the early wheat fields will be
I ready Ca the sickle. As an early harvest is almost invariably
a good one, there is a fair promise of ennui -m supplies.
The potato crop generally is fine and healthy, and m a very
great breadth was planted, a good yield is anticipated. There
have been a few instances of the appearance of blight, but it
is confined to spots unsuited to the growth of the plant.
I)ORBLTS/IME.—The weather has been remarkably fine,
and the farmers have got in their hay crops. The wheat
does not look well on the whole, and the cars seem to be ge-
nerally smaller this year than usual. The Lent sown crops
have recovered from the check they received in the early
part of the spring, and now look strong and healthy. The
potatoes, for the most part, look well and strong, but we
Tear the insidious disease is again making its appearance
among the tufiers, though we hope not to any serious extent.
The crop, if preserved, is likely to be heavy.

Essex.—The fine hot weather of the last few days has
been fast tautening on the corn for the ham st ; hut
we had no idea that the scythe or the sickle And yet been
brought into opt ration. This, however, we learn, has been
the case upon the farm of Mr. J. Bearhlock, at Upminster
Common, where a field of fine self-sown barley fell last week
before the mowers, and tnis, too, upon heavy land, on which
the barb y crop is generally late this season.
HANTS.—The wheat crops are exceedingly fine, changing
colour tut, and will, in about a fortnight, be ready for the
induitrieus reapers, should the present splendid weather
continue. Potatoes are also everywhere spoken hiahly of,
promising an abundant crop—not the least sign of disease up
to the present time.
. . .

HELFORDS)4IItE.—There is a great breadth of land under
wheats ; generally speakii,g, the plant looks healthy, hut it is
not eta ut, and the heavy rains it experienced during the time
of its hloesoming, will be detrimental to the " east ;" such a
yield therefore as that of last year may not be expected in the
present, though a fine genial harvest would unquestionably
give an average crop. The Lent grains wear a most promising
appearance, the barleys in particular. Lett year, it may be
recollected, the failure of the beans was general; this year
the stalk is short, but there is every prospect that of both
beans and peas the crop will be good. The return of fine
sunny weather hes enabled large breadths of hay land to he
cleared, and the late mown grass is being hare steel very
favourably. On all hands we hear most encouraging reports
of the potato plant ; the haulm is very he ilthy—not the least
appearance of dice ve.
KENT —The breadth of wheat is unquestionably large,
and, although the ears are generally small, they stand thick
on the ground, and the yield promises to be good. Oats,
and even beans, are much better generally than expected.
The potato disewe was stated to be visiNe in some few places,
but in a ride to Folkestone, and by Dover, Di al, Canterbury,
and Chatham, back again to Alaidstone, after making many
inquiries, no trace of it could be found. EveryboGy had seen
it "in the paper," but nobody had found it in the fields, in
which the crops appeared most healthy and luxuriant.

Laxe•RiltaE.—We have bed • continuance of the finest
weather that could be desired ; and • great breadth of excel-
lent bay has been got, at • nominal cost, and in first rate
condition. The weather hu not been more favourable for
tie hay harvest than for the forwarding of the cereal crops,
which latter have advanced to maturity with extraordinary
rapi :RT. The crops generally are in splendid condition;
and though a repttitrim, from one or two parts of the
country, of that bug-bear complaint so fashionable with
greedy 'mowers at this time of Vie year, called the " potato
disease," may be heard, it is quite certain that a finer yield
of this necessary root, for the breadth grown, has not been
witnessed.

SOMEItSETBIIIRE —A large quantity of hay has been
cart. d. The wheat and barley crops look very promising,
and, should the present genial state of weevil°, continue,
there can be little doubt wo shall have an average, if not an
abundant hnrvett. _ .

Senses.—The wheats arc now in full ear in most pasts of
the country. They have not suffered much from the late
high win,la and heavy rain. In the finest fields the wheat is
thin on the ground, the plants having suffered from the wet
cold spring ; but the plants which remain are in meat places
now strong, healthy, and of a good colour, except on poor
lands, where there will certainly be a short crop. The pota-
to is certainly be • stases crop. The potato is certainly
par jolly aft•etcel by disease, but not to an extent at present
to excite alarm.
WESTMORELAND —Great quantities of gra,s have been
cut and led. There is every / rospect of an early, sad we
trust a plentiful harvest. There have been several instances
f the putatoe decay,and it is evident, from the accounts. that
the disease has exhibited itself in widely different localities;
still it is too Non to predicate its extent and effect. There
was the usual annual alarm raised last year, but the inflic-
tion, alter all, was not so serious as was feared. The worst
feature of the case this year is, that the potato generally
seems weak and watery, and wants the good old flavour
which it seemed last year to have in great part recovered.
WaLra.—The brilliant sunshine has effected a visible
improvement in the appearance of the crops generally.
Potatoes are described as looking well generally, though
instances of disease arc reported. The hay harvest is pro-
gressing rapidly, and the crop is spoken of as bring in
excellent condition.

IRELAND.—There are some acccunts to the effect that
symptoms, precisely similar to those which appeared in the
potato crop of 1846, are again visible. However, on looking
at the reports mid market notes in the country papers, as well
so at the private letters, we are justified in wing there is no
cause for alarm. Failures of potatoes in isolated parts fere
mentioned, but natural causes are assigned. As well might
the " missing " of the turnips or other Esculents in particular
situations be set down to a general epidemic.

REFORM MOVEMENT.—At a meeting of the Bath
Liberal Association, held at 12, B►th-street, on July 13th,
Admiral Gordon in the chair, the following resolution war'
moved by Mr. O. Edwards, and seconded by Mr. W. Lewis:
—"That this meeting tender their best thanks to the editor
of the Daily Netts, for his attention to Mr. Humes motion
for parliamentary reform, and for his general advocacy of
the people's rights ; also to the 84 honest and independent
members who voted in favour of the motion; and that a
copy of this resolution be sent to the editor of the Daily
News by the chairman." Carried uhanimously.-11aN1tY
Goatnizr, chairman.