Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-29 00:00:00

THE CROPS.

An excursion through several of the midland
and southern counties, together with our letters
from many other districts of the country, enable
us to state that there is everywhere a magnificent
promise of all kinds of agricultural produce• The
wheat crop, now everywhere in ear, never,
as a general rule, promised better ; and
though, with the barley, it is beaten down
in places, by the thunder-storms of the past
ten days, both bid fair to 3 ield well at harvest
time. As to green crops, potatoes look uncom
monly well ; a bulky and healthy growth above
ground must be taken for what it may yet be worth,
as indicating a corresponding growth below The
mange' wurzel crop is now being generally thinned
—the plants have come up satisfactorily. Turnips
are suffering severely from the fly, and the usual
remedies are being advocated with the usual confi-
dence, and tried, we must add, with the usual
failure. Among these are the plans of dusting the
young plants with lime as soon as they appear,
and every morning afterwards before the dew
has left them (two or three bushels per acre will
suffice)—of sowing common turnips with the Swed-
ish, and both in abundance, the object being to save
the latter by the preference which the fly exhibits
for the former (this is Mr. Poppy's device)—and of
catching the insect by drawing a beetle trap or fly
catcher over the rows. This beetle trap disturbs
the fly, which leaps, and is caught on an adhesive
screen: we name it hero as it is accompanied by
testimonials to its efficiency ; but we have little
confidence in any expedient of the kind for saving
the turnip crop of a farm. The work of haymaking
is everywhere vigorously proceeding, and a heavy
crop is being made under, at present, the most
favourable circumstances.—Gardeners' Chronicle.

SINGULAR PLACE POR A NEST.—Near a South Eastern
Railway station, of Appledore, a couple of yellow-ham-
mers have built their nest in a small hole right under the
iron rails of the up-line. The birds are now sitting on
four eggs, and although the trains are constantly running
above them, they do not seem to be in the least degree
disturbed.

THE SLAVE TRADE —Since the Deputation, headed by
the Earl of Shaftesbury, waited on Lord Palmerston, the
Government has been far from idle, and Sir Charles Wood
has frankly declared the intention, as soon as the neces-
sary arrangements could be made, of increasing the West
Indian squadron, and of adopting some energetic system of
cruising on the cost.ol Cuba.

AN EARLY FLING AMONG TR3 DERR.—A. few days ago,
Captain Chisholm, Ratagan House, fired at a stag in Glen-
undalan, on the estate of Ratagan. Although he knew he
hit him, yet the wound was not mortal, and the stag
bounded off at a swift pace over Torlysich hill, and came
with rapid, though uncertain step, down upon Sheal
Passing closely behind the house, it cleared at one bound a
wall of seven feet high. Meantime several dogs pursued
the antler monarch into Lochduich, and succeeded several
times in turning him shorewards. ' Two mountaineers
arriving in haste, plunged into the sea, and struggled
bravely to make him captive, bat the stag proving the
better navigator, their endeavours were ineffectual. At
last they obtained a boat, and were enabled to capture
their prey. They pulled with might and main, bet the
deer was half-way accroas the loch towards Invetinate, a
distance of ablut a mile, when vanquished. The Captain
retraced his steps homewards in a disconsolate mood, cha-
grined at the supposed loss of his prize, and might say with
Duncan Bite Macintyre, " Siubhal fridhe re an la, thilg
mi spreadhadh nach d'rinn fenm dhomh ;" but on ap-
proaching the honse, we can imagine his astonishment
and surprise when his lady met him, and hailed him with
the glad tidings that the monarch of the glen, which he
had wounded, was secured alive, and bound captive in her
own good keening. The stag was regaled for two days on
beer and eggs, and was recruiting wonderfully, but on the
second day they took him out to get the air and some
pasture feeding, and tied him to a tree. He at once
snapped the rope, but as good luck would have it, the
captain was stadding close by ; he rushed upon him,
grappled with him, and threw him down. It was" the
work of a moment to take the egian-dubh out of his hose,
and there and then despatch him—the captain knowing
well, the, if be should let him slip the second time, he
would -probably never see another sight of him.—lnverness
Courier.

A YOUNG LADY BURNT TO DEATH.—We lamsnt to
record the melancholy particulars attending an accident
which bafel Miss Ellen Sperling,.daughter of Mr. James
Sperling, solicitor, who was so shockingly burnt at the
residence of her mother, in Crouch-street, Colchester, on
Wednesday evening, that death terminated her sufferings
in a few hours. From inquiries, we learn that about half
past seven o'clock the deceased, who was about twenty
years of age, was in the act of sraling a letter, when a
lighted wax taper on the table at which she was standing
accidentally ignited the top flaunce of her muslin dress.
She immediately cried out to tho servant in attendance,
"Oh ! Susan, I'm on fire, smother me up !" and rushed
out of the back door into the yard .to the pump, at which
she attempted to extinguish the flames. Failing to
accomplish this object, and being now completely
enveloped in a mass of fire, she ran back into the house
and tore up the dining-room carpet, which she
wrapped round her, but which was soon consumed.
The servant. who was the only parson with her in the
house, got Miss Sperling out of the dining-room into
the passage and shut the door, fearing the house
would be set on fire. She then gave ,an alarm
in the street, and Mr. Green and Mr. Buckingham
living near, immediately ran in to the unfortunate young
lady's assistance ; they promptly wrapped around her a
hearthrug, brought from Mr. Colvin's, a baker, but the
flames and s.noke were intense and suffocating, and Mr.
Green's hands were severely burnt in his praiseworthy
efforts to save her. Miss Sperling's clothes were- com-
pletely consumed, end her body frightfully 'burnt and
blackened from head to foot. Mr. Philbrick, surgeon, first
arrived, and Mr. R. S. Nunn, the family surgeon, Dr.
Duncan, and Mr. Mercer, house surgeon at the hospital,
were afterWards'ealled in to the unfortunate young lady's
assistance, when every means were employed to allay her
suffering, and save her life, but she lingered in indeseri-
hAle suffering till half-past twelve o'clock,. when she ex-
pired, in a state of consciousness to within half an hour
of 'her death. An inquest was held upon the body on
Tbursday,at the King's Arms Inn, whet the, jury returned
a verdict of accidental death.--- ChelmsfordChronicte.
cAsa AND DEED BOXES.—The next important thing to the posses-
sion of rash is, how (when you have got it) to keep it safely, either in
the counting-house or at home. The same remarks apply to deeds
and other valuable documents. We have seen a large and varied
stock of both these desirable articles, manufactured ex. restly for Mr.
E. T. Hall, of South John-street, that challenge attention. The, e
boxes are made on new and admired principles, and possess patent
locks, which defy the ingenuity of any "pick-lock" in the world to
open, except with the legitimate key. To merchants, solicitors, and
others, these new safes, on a small scale, must prove valuable indeed.
—Noriliern Daily Times, 21st Meg, 1857,