The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-02 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

I The week opened with a very showery day
throughout, wind south-west, being just such weather as
wheat on light soils and all descriptions of spring corn
want, helping the grass a little, although too late to
make a good crap of hay this season. Monday was showery
lup to noon, the remainder of the day five and breezy. Wind
SS.W. Thermometer 63 degrees. Barometer 1:9.70
inches. Our advises stated that wheat-ears were shown at
Blandlord market on Saturday,and this morning some very
fine ones were exhibited at Mark-lane from the neighbour-
hood of ribridge. From Somersetshire our advice. of Sa-
turday's date stated : " We have bad some fine rain this
week, and six hours this morning, with the appearance of
more in the distance. It has come in good time, the land
was thirsty, and badly wanted it. Our crops look splendid,
and promise abundance." From Essex it was reruarxed :
" These refreshing showers are very beneficial, but more
are wanted." Tuesday was a fine day, sunny and breezy,
with a rising barometer. From Suffolk—on the borders of
Norfolk "The growing crop of wheat loots well.
Rain much wanted for everything excepting wheat."
From near the centre of the same county :—" During the
past few days we have had a few refreshing showers,
which have been very beneficial to sprlng-sown corn and
cloven; but more rain is desirable fur the light lands."
From the West Riding of Yorkshire :--" Since Friday the
weather has been much ,00ler, with strong wind and
flying showers ; and these will do much good to the grow-
ing crops, which are now progressing fast, and are mostly
of a beautiful colour. The tempratiure of to-day is
higher, and weather more settled." From the Eut
Ruling on the same day it was remarked :—" Weather
continues all that could be desired for the growing crops.
Genial rain bas fallen to some extent, which has been
very beneficial to spring corn and pastures ; and the wheat
crop, of which there is this year a considerable increase of
acreage, could not possibly look better. Altogether pros-
pots for the future could (thus far) not be more favoura-
ble." From Lancashire it was observed :—" The warm
and sultry weather recently noticed has during the week
given place tosessonable showers, which have done much
good to the spring crops ; and the country about South
Lancashire is quite a picture of healthy vegetation. The
appearance of the wheat plant is considerably improved."
Wednesday was a fine breezy and sunny day ; some wheat
ears were received from Somersetshire, apparently Tala-
vera, small, but very healthy, while it was stated that
several fields were fully nut in that neighbourhood. All
there advice. give promise of an early harvest, provided
the weather continues as propitious as at present. From
the west coast of Scotland it was observed:—"The
weather has been showery sod beneficial to the
crops. Thursday was a fine breezy day, pushing for-
ward the wheat crop most favourably." From Buck-
inghamshire it was remarked :-." The growing crop
of wheat is looking very promising—this fine weather
snits in much ; the Lent corn on the dry 'Oils will stiffer
from the drought if this dry weather continue." From
Warwickshise our advice' stated :—"The weather is all
that can be wished for, and the crops are most luxuriant."
Fromßuffolk it was remarked:—" With the exception of a
few refreshing showers, the weather has continued fine,
and is now brilliant. Rain is much needed for spring corn
and for the pastures, especially on the light eois." From
the same county, near the coast : —" We have very dry,
warm, and brilliant weather, but rain is much needed for
everything save wheat." Friday morning was thick and
oppressive, with a threatening aspect ; wind E., thermo-
meter up to 70 degrees, barometer 2'J.:10 inches. Shortly
after noon a thunderstorm commenced, which bated until
3 p.m., and much heavy rain felL It appears to
have prevailed in other localities, and the fear is
that, wherever the rain was very heavy, the (leggy
portionof the wheat-plant might be knocked down. Our
advice. on that day from Lincolnshire, stated :—" A fine
shower fell in this neighbourhood to-day, which will be
of infinite service ; for the growing crops of all kinds are
beginning to suffer from the drought, and if a good copi-
ous rain should come at this juncture, probably no great
injury has been done by the best, though under any cir-
cumstances there must now be inevitably some consider.
able failures on the spring crops from several causes—say
wind, frosts, and wrreworm. Wheat will be bursting into
ear in a day or two, and is forwarder than last year by ten
days." From Devonshire our advice, stated :—" Hot
forcing weather, early wheats getting out in ear, and hay
harvest begun, with heavy crops." Saturday was a dry
and at times a sunny day, with the wind round to the
N.W. These are favourable agricultural prospects.—
Mark-lane Exprees.

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