The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-01 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

The week opened with a very wet day and a very
boisterous night. Monday morning was thick and foggy
after slight frost; wind 8.8. W. ; barometer 30.10 inches.,
Tuesday was finer but soft and rather humid for the time
of the year. Our advioes from Northumberland state—
" The weather continued Site and frosty up to Saturday
morning, when rain set in. Sunday and yesterday were
again fair and slightly frosty. Westerly winds have pre-
vailed." From Suffolk—" Weather close and mild; un-
favourable for the condition of all grain." From another
part of the same county our correspondents express much
anxiety at the great falling off in the deliveries of wheat
from the farmers at this early period of the season—of send-
mg not enough even for the wants of the local millers ; so
while they expect no increase until next harvest. re-
course must be had more and more to foreign supplies. From
the Rest Riding of Yorkshire it was stated—" Wea-
ther is mild and open, and th. growing wheat-plant looks
remarkably well, the late frost having been very beneficial
in giving it a seasonable check." Wednesday was •
thick, fw, damp day, not very suitable for the Christ-
mas, On the west coast of Scotland " the
weather has been very variable." There was another
dense fog on Thursday—and this appears to have
put • stop to all out-door work ; but it cleared off at
midnight. Our advisee from Warwickshire stated,
" Weather during the week has been very unlike Christ-
mas. We bad • day's rain on Saturday, and since then it
has been muggy, mild, and miserable. Thill morning
there was • moderate frost, and • thick fog during the
remainder of the day." The amount of wheat returned
this week was Si;,‘ 21 quarters, at 665. 9.1., against
60,756 quarters, at 67e. 3d. the previous week. The
carrespondiag week of last year's returns was 58,431 qrs.,
at 59a. sd. The barley returned this week was 82,892 qrs.,
at 41s. 2d., against 88,470 quarters at 40e. Bd. the previous
week ; the corresponding week of the put year was
62,889 quarters, at 44a. 4d. It will thus be seen that this
article is also falling off, although the supply is greatly
in excess of that of• last year, and we expect to see it
confirmed that the growers have also made free with this
corn, and that the deliveries cannot be kept op to the
end of the malting mason. The large brewers set their
faces against any advance in the price, continuing to use
sugar as the cheaper if not the better material for their
purpose. It is difficult Pat now to form • correct opinion
of the agricultural prospects, but as the stock-taking is
now cooing on of all the grain in the United Kingdom,
there will soon be something more decisive to go on.
Latterly the imports have been large from America, and
these have tended to Galin the trade, but there must soon
be an end to such important arrivals, and in about soother
week nearly all the vessels thence may be in, unless a few
stragglers are kept out by the shift of the wind to the
meth-east at the close of the week. Friday was a brighter
day, but Saturday was cold and bleak, with some threat-
ening of frost.—Mark.kaie Express.