The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-31 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

In the early part of the week some heavy rain fell
at intervals, which proved most beneficial to the working of
the land in general; and afterwards being very fine,
autumnal tillage has progressed most favourably. A large
breadth has been finished in fine order, the land going
admirably well. so that farmers have great reason to be
✓atified with their labours this season. The rue has been great
on the best sorts of wheat, Chidham and rough chaff tracing
the lead amongst the white varieties, gulden drop. Spalding
Browick. and Donna Maria amongst the red. Good prices
have been given for picked samples, and there is scarcely a
doubt that every grain of new will this cation germinate.
Thin sowing would suffice, and be a saving to every grower.
The farmers have been too much engaged to thrash wheat
freely. Nevertheless markets are rather quieter from the
middle of this week. If. however, a slight reaction take
• "Stnp the supplies" will be the onler of the d.ty,
foe the quality is so choice that some stock of it must be
retained to meet the demand when it becomes again
active, which sooner or later must be the case, for no
quality can compete with English this year, and we never
can get back so prime no article as hu been taken from
us for France, both for sowing and for the manufacture
into flour.

Barley improving in value, will induce the farmers to
thrash liberally. The deliveries have consequently been
larger, and will no doubt continue to increase weekly, most
probably up to Christmas. Having taken favour with
maltaters, who have got to work more generally, the tendency
has been upwards, and fine qualities during the week have
advanced fully le. per quarter. In some markets the
choicest qualities have touched 45e. per quarter, and there
is a greater range in prices than was at one time expected,
the quality having been considered to be so much alike.
But this has been found otherwise, a good deal having been
prematurely ripened, and such ranges down to MIL per qr.
The average price of the week was :Inc 9d., and the
quantity returned 82,499 quarters, being two-thirds mare
than the corresponding week of last year, when 27,974 qrs.
were sold to average 40a. N. per quarter. The ale brewers
of Burton-on-Trent are still working up the article, to the
delight of the agriculturists, who, if they do not brew
themselves, cannot do better than encourage the beverage
for family use, pals bitter ale being recommended by many
physicians to be taken medicinally, of course in moderation,
and many are waiting for the October brewings to have •
prime quality. Beer made in hot weather was not encouraged
by the brewers themselves, who were afraid of it. "sour-
ing," and only sent it out iu July and August for quick
consumption.
Most kinds of provender have steadily advanced in value.
The superiority of English oats has encouraged many buyers
to lay these up; and whilst the rate is so moderate, people
cannot do better than make their purchases. The deliveries
continue to be large in the eat-growing counties, more than
usual having been planted last spring. The thrashing will
go on steadily up to the close of the year, straw being
always wasted for fodder during the winter months. If
there were any fear of supplies not being kept up, seed-
corn of the finest quality should be secured and kept over,
to be sure of • prune sample, as the new foreign is poor
stuff, and unfit to be used for such a purpose.

The storing of root; has been proceeded with steadily, and
mangel-wurzel cleared away for wheat-sowing. Some will
go irto the ground next week ; and alter turnips, also,
sow illgß aregoing on.. .

limns skod-pea; for feeding are steadily looking up, the
consumption being gradually on the increase. Linseed
cakes cannot be bought so advantageously; and although
the graziers are succeeding so well in the sale of meat, they
have higher mices to pay for feeding stuffs. There seems
little prospect of any of these articles moving down in price.
—Mark•lane Express.