The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-06 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

(From the Mari-lane Esprest.)
The past week opened with fine weather. Monday
was favourable, and harvest work commenced generally in
the early districts under favourable auspices. Our advices
are of increasing interest. On that day, from Cornwall, it
was stated :—" The crop of wheat in this neighbourhood is
thin in bulk, and I fear the yield will not be abundant in
many cases the ear is deficient, particularly in the fate ,
mope. Barley is a good bulk ;in many parts it is laid. Oats
are a good crop. Potatoes—l have not seen such • goodcrop
for many years, but the disease is set in bad, which will be
a great lee. We have had • great deal of rain in this
month, and the weather is now very unsettled. A great
deal of hay is yet unsaved, and much spoiled. I really
hope we may have fine weather soon, for if we get
another bad harvest it will be severely felt. If we
have fine weather many patches of wheat will
be cut here in the latter end of this week,
and I calculate the wheat harvest will be general in
this immediate neighbourhood next week. Not much barley
will be ripe for a fortnight or three weeks." Tuesday
proved fine end favourable for field-work. From the West
Riding of Yorkshire on that day our advices run :—" Since
Friday we have bad the weather rather unsettled and windy,
without any great weight of rain in this neighbourhood, so
that the crops, with few exceptions, are going on steadily,
and the root crops grow very fast, and promise well for the
winter." Wednesday proved fine. From Nottinghamshire,
on that day, it was remarked :—" The corn crops generally
look healthy in this county, but the late rains have pre-
vented their making much progress. The hay harvest
also progresses slowly, yet many fields have been
secured in excellent condition. Turnips promise exceed.
ingly welL Mange's are not favourably reported on."
Thursday was a remarkably fine day, the thermometer up
to 70, wind 8. W. and breezy. The accounts of the crops on
that day were, from Hertfordshire :—" Since my last account
the wheat harvest has partially commenced ; the farmers say
that it is weighty in hand but thin in plant. The quality is
stout. Some say there is mildew where at all lodged, but
I think not much to complain of at present. Barley is
promising to be • fair crop. Beans are thin-planted, and
in some places • great deal of fly ; I think, however, they
are fairly corned where free from the fly. Beans a good
Oats • fair crop." The same day, from Emu, near
iSlaotron Walden, it was stated :—.• The weather has now
been fair for four consecutive days ; this has had
.• most favourable effect upon the appearance of
the growing crops. The process of ripening sow
proceeds rapidly. The cutting of wheat, rata,,
, and peas has partially commenced ; in another week,
with a continuance of fine weather, both scythe and sickle
will be in active operation. Hay is secured ; trefoil mostly
so. Corn promises a good yield, with the exception of beans,
which are attacked with the collier. Mengel warzel and
turnips are much improved by the showers of the last
Muth." From Woodbridge, the same day, the following
into estingaccount was given :—" With the exception of a
severe hailstorm on Saturday last, which did some extent of
damage, the weather with us has, on the whole, been
fine and suitable for the growing crops, which in this
immediate district promise fairly, both in quality
and quantity. A few early pieces of Talavera wheat
are cutting around us ; but harvest will not be general, even
with fine weather, for at least ten days or a fortnight."
Friday opened with a threatened change in the weather, the
barometer having fallen, and the wind round to the south-
east, the thermometer up to seventy-five, and, until the
afternoon, the weather was forcing and hot, then it became
showery ; the night was, however, tine and starlight, with
summer lightning. On that day, from Linwlire, our
report was :—" We have had some fine genial days of late,
which have improved the appearance of theand
there is also some good hay now being secured. crops,re is
nothing to report except that harvest will be much later
than was once expected, and barley, in many districts,
promises to come first to the scythe. The quality
appears good." From the West Riding of Yorkshire it was
stated :—"Harvest willbe pretty general about Monday week.
but I don't like the appearance of the wheat crop so well as
I did about a fortnight since." From Devonshire there were
many complaints of last week's heavy showers having beaten
down the crops seriously. At Mark-lane, on Friday, two
samples of new Talavera wheat were offered for sale, good
millers' quality, weighty and bold large berries, but • curse
skin : these were the first disputed of this season, end com-
manded 72a. per qr., and from this date, weather permit-
ting, deliveries of new will commence. Saturday proved
showery, wind south-west, and thermometer down to 67 ; a
' good strong breeze, however, prevailed throughout the day,
and harvest work would be only partially s . Fine
Iweather is now most desirable, as on it de the hopes of
the farmers, and the prices for the future year. With afair
crop weU secured, English gold will not go quite so fast to
I the United States for the purchase of cereals.