The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-11 00:00:00

FARMING PROSPECTS-THE CROPS.

It is admitted on all hands that the prospects of the
season are excellent The most inveterate prate°.
timid grumbler cannot deny that seldom has the
growing wheat looked better than now, and that the
spring crops an being sown with every advantage
which can be derived from a good seed bed. And
when the farmer has not his land in good plight for
roots and green crops, the fault must be his own ;
nothing can have been more favourable to husbandry
than the past autumn and winter. Then provender
for stook has been and is cheap and abundant, and
though the pries of wheat is low and that of meat is
not high, the British farmer now possesses means of
producing both wheat and meat at a less cost than at
any former period in the history of modern British
agriculture. On the subject of protection the agri-
cultural mind is recovering its balanoe, and a reason-
able consideration of the peculiar circumstances of
his own busieess is taking the place in the farmers'
thoughts of reimposed food monopoly and political
clitation.

The immediate prospect of the corn trade is, that
prices will be steadily moderate. At this moment
the low pries of wheat is the result of the favourable
appearance of our own crops, and the total absence of
anythicg like speculative purchases—in a great
measure caused by the absurd and frantic policy
adopted by the protectionists—rather than of foreiga
importation; though the protectionist journals, admit-
ting this, are still crying "wolf" Thus the Merle-
ktne Espress says: "The accounts from all parts of
the country respecting the appearance of the young
wheat plant are of a satisfactory nature; and at
present there is nothing is the aspect of affairs to give
rise to uneasiness in regard to the future @apply of
home grown food."
This shows the fallacy of the protectionist predic-
tion that oar own soil would be less cultivated in
consequence of free trade and moderate prices. The
free traders, on the other hand, said the reverse would
happen, and that British husbandry would receive a
stimulus, not a check from foreign competition; aced
here we have the fact admitted by the protectionist
organ. The truth is, there has been a larger breadth
of wheat planted during the past autumn than usual,
arising In part no doubt from the very fine season.
This alone is safficient to keep down prices, and so
the corn trade reviewer somewhat reluctantly admits
saying, "Ti.ti (the promising state of the wheat
crops) is not verhaps of much importance so early in
the year; still it is not without its influence, and
unquestionably assists to induce caution on the part
of purchasers. He is not, however, going to let the
farmers escape just yet from the bugbear of foreign
competition, for he says, " The principal cause of the
increase in the trade we are, however, inclined to
attribute to the expectation of foreign supplies ;"
which he makes out thus. " Notwithstanding the con-
tinued fall in prices during the winter months, a good
many purchsses were made abroad from time to
time on English et:count ; and our merchants, millers,
and dealers, anticipating the speedy arrival of a por-
tion of the enn bought by them, are more disposed
to diminish than to add to the stocks they have still
on hand."

Now, a comparison of the prices in Mark-lane sad
at the continental ports will satisfy the most timid
alarmist that very few importations of wheat can
take place with a view to profit. What comes mart
be the result of speculation, which has failed.
For instance, white wheat on Monday last in
Mark-lane ranged from 40s. to 48s. per quarter, and
red whist from 375. to 425. per quarter. Now at
Dantsig, though the demand wuslow, prices were erm,
and wheat sold from 3.55. to 39.. per quarter, according
to quality, free on board. At Konigsberg red wheat
was quoted at 325. to 335. 6d. per quarter, free on
board. At Stettin wheat of different aorta ranged
from 345. to 365. per quarter. At Rostock the price
was 355. per quarter. At Rotterdam the price was
from 33a. to 381. the quarter ; and at Antwerp it
was 375. per quarter. The following are the charges
on a quarter of wheat from Danzig, assuming it to
be free on board there.

Freight and primary,
8 mad dues
Ininaranee, average rase of winter sad summer 1 0
Entry and lighterage 0 8
Moorage inward 0 6
Leading 0 4
Loss sad damage ea voyage not covered by in-
allinalte
Conmeisaion for sale 1 0
Metonym, portion paid by seller 0 4
Delivin7
Daty 1 0

Total
Here we have the cost of 10s. a quarter without any
allowance for interest, or profit, or for warehousing,
and so forth, should the corn not be Bold immediately
on its arrival. To my that our market is dependent
on expectant importation is simply to mislead ; out
actual prices are very mach the consequence of home
'applies and home prospects.
From all districts the aoeounts ars good. In Surrey
it is said " The state of the land is sentinel, fine.
The ploughs are at work in all direetions; end it is most
gratifying to watch the slices as they an turned over
and reveal the supere.xcellsot temperament of the
ground into which spring wheat, oats, sad potatoes
are daily introduced. We have watched their [the
farmers'] processes, by pressers, drills, or dibbles, and
find that the texture of land is alike propitious to
• . . The condition of young wheat. rye, turnips after
stubble, clever, rye grass,teres, and unit:sin, is subdued
and kept back, but sound and healthy The flock
farmers report very favourably of the sheep, and of
the lambing seseou." In Leicestershire the late sown
wheat is looking particularly well, and a considerable
breadth ham been sown after the removal of root cropy
which, from the favourable manner in which it has
been put in, gives a reasonable hope for waccess."
Then has been no epidemic, either in the flasks or
herds, this winter.

From Scotland, too, report is good. In Mid
Lothian a large breadth of land has been ploughed
"in a satisfactory manner. Wheat and the grass
fields are fully planted, and look well." The grass
parks near Edinburgh which have been let have
brought increased prices. In East Lothian we hear
that " a large breadth of ' wheat has been sown.
Winter wheat and grass havelatterly been assuming
a more verdant hue; both are looking well. Feeding
stocks have been thriving well. Stackyards are mach
about their ordinary size at this season, but it must be
recollected that a stack prodnoes much more
grain for its size than on average seasons." In
West Lothian the weather has been tempestuous
and severe, and work is, in consequence,
rather in war. Yet it is said, " Oar young
wheats and
_grasses have still a favourable appear-
ance." In Fifes!** "pastures have assumed a fine
rowing appearanoe. The young wheats also look
Kt. ‘lthy and promising; and what were sown just
befo re the severe frosts set in are now apiearing
above ground. and seem sufficiently thick. The fine
dry we wen which has prevailed for the last ten days
has cam, 'bid farmers to put in a large breadth of
spring wi.‘ent ; and as there is still a good breadth in
preparation foe this crop, the extent in wheat will be
much greater • than usual this season."
We note wise things thus early in the season;
and should the .'emeieder of the year cep to harvest
prove as propitio as as the early part of the mason,
there is no doubt ,hat very abundant crops of wheat
over a great extent of ground will be reaped; end if
so, the price will be Ow.

EXIGIATION.—NearIy two hundred pauper emi-
grants from the Cheltenham 11100 a ag• ollowted to go out to
Chtebee in
the Corsair, to sail fro:o Olowester la tbe month
of Alla