The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-02 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR

FEBRUARY.

We have little to add concerning the progress of farming
operations ; for, indeed, to the end of the third week the grow-
ing corn has made little progress since our last report. It is
a singular fact that, although the winter has passed over
nearly without frost—at least of a severe character—so great
has been the quantity of rain, that, coupled with the almost
total absence of sun during a period of nearly three months,
nature has been without a stimulus. But this torpidity cannot
long continue, unless the weather greatly deteriorate. We have
lately been blessed with three or four splendid days, and these
have possessed a springiness which have furnished more than a
hint of what may shortly be expected. The periods of old
and new Candlemas (2d and 13th ult.) have passed over ;
and, according to a saying of olden time, " The snow will now
lie on a hot stone." Some bit ds also—as the chaffinch, marsh
titmouse, skylark, blackbird—have given occasional assurance
that bleak winter is rapidly passing away. Let us hope that
the criterion month of March may not, as it unfortunately did
last year, destroy the prospects of the farmer, by deluging the
earth with cold rain, at a season when the experience of all
time has proved that drying winds and clear sun afford the
surest testimony of future abundance.
It is entirely premature to hazard an opinion concerning the
future progress of the wheat. We have made inquiries con-
cerning, and have endeavoured to investigate its present con-
dition ; and from the testimony of every person who has spoken
or written to us on the subjec', collect that it is very backward,
extremely short, hut not at all injured—retarded as it has been
by the nature of the season; but farmers, with consentient
voice, declare that mere tardiness is no defect. Some complain
of the tryhlium incarnatum ; others find it in very excellent
condition. This plant has been considered as a capital pre-
paration for wheat ; but we were surprised to have it remarked
to us that the contrary, on some lands at least, is the fact;
while broad-clover is known to be always propitious to that
grain crop. We suspect that the habits and treatment of the
trifolium are not as yet duly appreciated or understood.
The weather continues to improve, and the sun acquires more
power ; thus the lambing season, tardy in common with every
thing that belongs to the farm, is likely to prove favourable.
Notwithstanding the very great volume of rain, and the
swamped condition of the land, we have not, as yet, heard any
complaints of disease. We shall recur to the weather again,
after waiting a few days to enable us to give a summary of our
meteorological observations.
Another week has nearly elapsed and it is very gratifying to
be able to announce progressive improvement. The average
temperature of the month has been rather too low; in fact, it
has scarcely equalled that of January. Still there has been
more sun and very little actual frost.
The 18th was a day to be remembered and recorded. The
atmosphere was gloomy, and the sky was overcast with clouds
till six in the evening, then a brisk wind from south-west
sprang up, attended with three hours of close rain. At nine
it veered to the west, its violence abated, and the clouds col-
lected gradually into masses, and dispersed. It became per-
fectly clear, and the moon, high in the heavens, approached
the meridian. The planet Jupiter was close to her, but Mars,
his immediate companion, was lost to sight. He was occulted,
or eclipsed by the moon, and the occultation continued till
nearly midnight. At half-past ten, just at the period of the
most perfect brilliancy, a splendid aurora borealis took place.
A broad beam of crimson light darted up from the horizon, a
little to the north of the east, and a similar beam ascended from
the west. They did not meet, but an intermediate effulgent
red mass, separate from, but approaching to, both, was ex-
tended to the north-west of the zenith. From this mass
pointed rays of pale light darted occasionally toward the north,
and produced a temporary corona of great beauty. These
northern lights (if the term be admissible) did not continue
(to our observation) above half an lemr ; they then entirely
vanished ; and on the following day wind with profuse rain was
the result. Subsequently the weather has been subject to al-
ternations—one day being extremely wet, the next brilliantly
sunny. The wind has been strong and very keen from north-
west for three days, and the night of the 24th was frosty, pro-
ducing a thickish pellicle of ice in the morning of the 25th.
This was nearly the only keen frost of the month, and the day,
though cold, proved sunny and vivifying. We think it may be
safely concluded that, in nine cases out of ten; the aurora borealis
is a precursor of wind and rain, of snow occasionally, but rarely
of frost.

Upon the whole the season is favourable ; great quantities of
rain have fallen, which at length have reached the roots of the
largest trees, and supplied the sources of water-springs, which
during several seasmis had become very
various occasions, seen
much larger breadths of water over the low lands in the vallies
of the Thames. Every species of produce, we repeat, is back-
ward; but a period of seasonably-genial weather will afford
convincing proof that no serious injury has resulted from the
late peculiar autumn and winter.
Feb. 27.

The Magistrates of Arran-quay Police-office have
been these few days engaged investigating a case of a surrep-
titious introduction of gunpowder into the Grand Canal stores,
for carriage to the south of Ireland, under the name of hard-
ware. Leaving the danger of explosion out of the question,
the disastrous consequences of facilitating the means of gun-
powder getting into the hands of evil-disposed persons, and
without the usual clue of tracing to their possession, must. be
felt by all without a commentary. The magistrates have con-
sidered the facts which have been disclosed of sufficient impor-
tance to have a statement of them drawn up, and transmitted
to the Castle—they have no summary jurisdiction in the trans-
action. There is an Act making it penal by fine of 5001. to send
a quantity of powder exceeding one pound from one place to
another, without the cask containing it being legibly marked
with " gunpowder ;" but whether the person who sent the
powder in question has subjected himself to the penalty is a
matter of legal subtlety, as the actual powder cask had the re-
quisite mark, but certainly not " legible" to those who, it wall
intended, should have the carriage of it, as both cask and mark
were concealed within a larger vessel.— Saunders' News Letter.

FAMILIES RESIDING IN THE COUNTRY
are supplied with TEAS and COFFEES at the WHOLESALE
PRICE fur CASH :
81ack...25. Od. ts. 4d. Ss. td. 31. is. dd. 4s. 4s. 6d. ss.
Green..3s. &I. 4s. Od. 4s. Bd. ss. ss. 6d. 6s. is. Od. 85.
Coffee, Is. 6d. ls. Bd. ls. lOd. 25.. ..Finest Mocha, Es.
When the order exceeds £lO, the Carriage is Paid.
G. T. M ANSEL L, and CO.,
Wholesale Tea Dealers, 2, Bucklersbury, Cheapside.

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With silver hunting cases
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i. e. the detached escapement, jewelled in four holes, capped,
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T. COX' SAVORY,
Working Silver and Goldsmith, 47, Cornhill, London.
N.B.—Second-hand Watches purchased in exchange.