The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-11 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

The week opened with a moat brilliant day, and
a clear Italian sky throughout. Monday was a fine
breezy day, and a grmt deal of harvest work accom-
plished ; the corn going up in the finest possible condition.
Tuesday win a hot scorching day, and every hand which
could work was fully employed to do something in fur-
thering the progress of harvest. Our advice. on that day
were asunder from the West Biding of Yorkshire :
" The dry weather continues, and the turnip crop is all
but a complete failure, and getting daily worse. Cattle
are on winter food, in a great measure, and sadly short
of water in many places. Harvest operations are pro-
gressing favourably, and farmers should now push on,
or the corn will soon shale in the field for over ripeness."
From the East Biding it was remarked :—" Weather
continues very dry and hot, and harvest in this district
is now making rapid progress. South of the Humber
a great portion of the crops is already housed ; the quality
of the wheat this season is very fine and unusually heavy,
and when tested by thrashing, the result has generally
proved very satisfactory. Spring corn is very various,
and on the whole must prove considerably below this
average." From Suffolk—" Quality, weight, and general
condition of the wheat superb, yield good. Barley
being secured in fine order. This district promises well
for this grain. Hot and dry weather; rain very much
wanted." Wednesday was a warm and splendid harvest
day. From the east coast of Scotland our advices dated
—" Harvest is now quite general in this district ; we have
a continuance of very hot weather." From the falling
state of the barometer and shift of wind to the
13.5. W., a change in the weather appmred close at
hand, and on Thursday morning at Vain. a steady
gentle rain set in, which continued for two hours or more,
sad the remainder of the day proved shower,. This
desirable change was everything for the parched country,
and may give a little general relief wherever it was ex-
perienced ; while the temporary check to harvest opera-
tions would not prove unfavourable, and would be hailed
by every agriculturist as likely to do more good than
harm to any grain yet in the fields. Friday morning was
showery, but not much rain fell daring the day. and har-
vest work would proceed again. Our advices from Devon-
shire stated the wheat crop was nearly entirely housed,
and such was the case also in Cornwall, but
in the latter county barley was not all secured. Some
heavy storms bad been •ng during, the week.
From the West Riding of Yorkshire our advice, were as
follows :—" &nos Tuesday we have bad a slight shower or
two, but hardly enough to lay the dust. Our harvest is
going on steadily, but not fast enough, except where the
r machines are in full awing, ex oars is 'veleyre:tai
and
would be in daniZoilf austarocarewind or rough
should come on." our advices stated :
" During the whole of yesterday heavy rain fell in all this
district, and there has been more or less downfall in many
pub of the country ; though cloud,y this morning we
have only had occasional showers." From Lincoln-
shire, near Brigg, our information runs thus:—" No
rasa yet falls in this diatrict, though
and the glass have promised some. Th grams
being stacked in very fine condition ; in fact it is
so dry that great waste is the zonsequence; for the sheaves
on being pitched into the waggons are eo dry that an
enormous quantity of grain falls on to the ground. Much
tarn has been last, especially barley, before it was cut:
for the extreme heat ripened it rapidly, and then the high
winds ' necked' it, though a greater loss must have
resulted if the reaping machines had been unknown."
The week closed with a breezy day, cloudy at times, but
very little rain fell, and perhaps iu no week
. during any
previous harvest was ever so much gram 'Jocund, or in
finer condition. The tanners thus fully oceupood have
been unable to supply the markets, but the heavy weights
of the new wheats are attracting much attention, and for
theca sate misailmoberseleasesioss.--Aferk-istre Awes..