The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-19 00:00:00

Agricultural Prospects.

The week opened with a fine and dry day, thick
at times, but with the fog dispersing during the
afternoon.. Monday was a most cheering day,
bright and sunny at times, when farmers were push-
ing on favourably their wheat-sowing, and at last it
was going into the ground well, after the land had
been so saturated with wet. Indeed, on the heavy
soils the horses had much trouble to do their work,
sinking deep into the ground, and getting on very
slowly, ploughmen and horses being tired long be-
fore the day's work was done; the change, there-
fore, was acceptable to man and beast. Tuesday
was another fine, drying day, sunny at times, unlike
December, but cold and bracing ; wind N.E., ther-
mometer down to 42 deg., barometer up to 30.70
inches. In the north of Europe sharp frost has set
in. At Riga there were 14 degrees of frost, and,
with the thermometer here so high, this may soon
be the case in England. Wednesday was another
favourable day for the progress of wheat-sowing,
and a great deal of work was done in a satisfactory
way. The N.E. breeze is most acceptable for
the thrashing of wheat, and as the farmers finish
sowing they will turn their attention to this
work, while if prices suit them their supplies will
now increase. If, however, any abatement should

be asked by the buyers, such is the opinion of the
growers that they will hold on, the more so
as foreign imports cannot be received much longer,

from the lateness of the season and the ceasing
of the Baltic ports for the winter months ; so that
the stocks in granary must be resorted to, and
worked heavily from, whenever the deliveries of
home-grown are not sufficient for the millers, as has

latterly been the case. The returns this week have
only amounted to 72,286 quarters, against 78,776
quarters the previous week. That portion of the
new crop exposed to the rains before the stacks were
thatched, south of the Humber, is very large, and,
if brought out now, it cannot improve in condition.
Some farmers may thus leave it in
.the stack, to be
benefited by the winter frosts or penetrating March
winds, and bring out their old in preference, as for-
tunately a good deal of this is still in their hands,
and they are now reaping the benefit of some en-
hancement in its value, which will make good
amends for the low rates of the past two years.
Many growers will thrash barley instead of wheat
whilst the malting season is on, the prices for good
qualities being well maintained, and only the medium
and secondary sorts giving way in value. Feeding
descriptions sell well at full rates. The deliveries
this week were 81,030 qrs., against 84,984 qrs. the
previous week. This falling off was scarcely ex-
pected until after Christmas, as generally the two
or three returns at the close of the year are the
largest of any during the malting season. Had the
turnip land not been planted with wheat it would
have been preserved for barley; but the favourable
weather this week has given the farmers an
m op-
portunityayno
ofw b
go of sowingocdo
nps prices
ideconsidered
el
from
a rob
withnw:xhFility arv, andlaersteWe
the, in antici-
pation
breadthlatterly had numerous complaints of the sowinghsavaet
some periods, whilst too wet, being severely
attacked by the slug, and lime is being used to
some extent to destroy this enemy of the plant.
That first sown has got strong and healthy, and
is out of reach of mischief. The plant looks re-
markably well and promising, although this is only
a small portion compared with the whole. Thurs-
day proved another favourable day, sunny and dry-
ing, with wheat sowing continuing, and the baro-
meter slightly falling. Friday was cold and dry ;
wind north, thermometer 40 deg. ; barometer 30.35
inches. Saturday was cold and thick, but still fa-
vourable for field work ; and having had the week
entirely dry we think the wheat sowing may now
the overfa farmer.
four
r.
e
be considered as finished in England, after a most
pmroontrtahest,eadndancdautsrinygin
The cattle plague is now the worst feature of. agri.
culturalprospects, and this seemsspread
t o puzzle all e
Mark-lane Ex
pre
ested as
it g
much time,
anxiety extending
to
i'es •
continuess to fax and v

PACIFIC RAILROAD BONDS.---It has been de-
i dad by the Comptroller of the Currency that Pacific
Railroad bonds, issued by the United States, will be re-
ceived as security for circulating notes of national banks,
and the circulation will be issued upon deposit of such
bonds at the rate of eighty per cent. of their par value.
EMIGRATION TO THE
SOUTH. -- Emigration
companies are forming in many sections of the North to
furnish the South with the labour and capital necessary to
produce the accustomed crops, and also to substantially
benefit the emigrant.. The United States Mutual Pro-
tection Company of Washington, with the First Assistant
Postmaster General at its bead, has lea sed already many valu-
able plantations in Northern and Central Mississippi, and has
many applications from Southern planters for tenants and
and labourers. Some five hundred families are preparing
to move South in the month of January under the auspices
of this association. Southern landowners at present in
Washington express themselves warmly in favour of these
emigration movements, and promise labour and capital
every possible edcciurageraent and protection. Colonel
Forshey, of Texas, and Colonel Hall, of New Orleans,
are endeavouring to induce emigration to their locali-
ties.