Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-06 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE HARVEST.

*Words fail to describe the, brilliancy of the weather
during the past week, concluding a July to which few
memories can recall a parallel. We have had almost
uninterrupted sunshine; indeed, such few passing clouds
as have fleeted by, have simply served to afford a brief
respite from brilliant suns - and azure skies. If ,the
weather must be described in such words, our-report of
the crop must also be :given in equally,. "superlative
terms. Every account that reaches us•Tartakes of the
same-character. It is admitted' on .all hands that 'the
crop which now covers the ground has rarely been
equalled. Wheat, barley, oats, peas, and beans, all
promise a first-rate yield. During the past week an
immense breadth of wheat has been cut, and peas, beans,
barley, and oats, are also "crown "in some districts. Of
wheat a largoaverage has not only been cut, but carried,
and carried in the most splendid condition. The present
harvest promises to excel equally iu quality as in
quantity. The grain has had little or no rain upon it,
and we have now attained a point at which it may be
fairly anticipated that a very large proportion of _the
crop will be safely housed ere any damage can reach it.
We hear of large yields in point of bulk, and heavy
estimates as regards weight. Sixty-five pounds weight
per bushel, and from seven to eight: quarters per acre,
are spoken of with great exul:ation by some growers,
though, of course, this applies merely to individual cases.
At the same time such facts may„ to a certain extent, be
accepted as a proof of the general abundance and quality
of the grain orops of the present year.
Samples of new wheat, of fine quality, were exhibited
at oar" Saturday's markets in Inns:district, and all the
markets iri the kingdom will, no doubt_; record the same
fact ere the end of the current week.. But if the harvest
be unusually forward, it also happens that labour is
comparatively short; and as the crops 'appear to have
ripened almost simultaneously, it will require extra
energy and exertion on the part of our agriculturists to
clear the ground sufficiently fast. We anticipate, how-
ever, that in this district a very large proportion of the
wheat crop will be carted by the end of this week. The
grain is so ripe, and the dryne. s and brilliancy of the
weather such, that a very brief space after the corn is cut
will suffice to harvest it. And it will be a great point to
get it "housed without hav7ng anYwet upon it.
As regards prices, there is necessarily a tendency
down Wards; and in the face of such abundance as now
loids the ground, both in other countries as well as in
this, no other result could be expected. At the same time
holders do not seem disposed to press sales, and as
farmers are at the moment busily occupied with harvest
operations, there is little pressure on our markets. As
regards the new grain, its quality will tend to obtain for
it prices not often offered for new wheat, and this will
serve to-keep the general average at a batter point than
would otherwise be the case.

The turnips and pastures—especially the latter—are
beginning to want rain, and show obvious symptoms of
the effect of the long drought. Indeed, if we have not
rain ere long, feed will be extremely scarce, and this will
materially affect the price of stock. Farmers are already
beginning to call out that their beasts will be starved if
we do not soon get a downfall.—Sussex Advertiser.