The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-26 00:00:00

Agricultural Prospects.

The week opened with a hot day; wind S.E., clear sun,
With little wind. Monday was another hot day ; wind
N.E. to N.W. Thermometer up to 74 o:llgrees ; barometer,
30.20 inches. Tuesday was a thick,
fogg: morning, the
day proving sunny and hot ,-
. Barometer ver.
high, up to
30.45 inches. Our advices from the West Riding of
Yorkshire say :—" We have had another week of I.?riel dry
weather, and the markets are but little influenced b. 7
except as it affects turnips and potatoes, the former Pf
which are fast going away, and the latter not well spokes
of. I hear complaints of the yield of wheat and barley, and
expect they will weigh up light. Our farmers are now want-
ing rain to enable them to prepare for wheat-sowing.
From Suffolk on that day it was remarked : " The weather
continues wonderfully fine, and our farmers are busily en-
gaged on their land." From Norfolk it was observed :
" Wo have had another week of uninterruptedly fine wea-
ther, with light winds from the south-east." From North-
umberland our advices state : "The weather since my last
report has contintzsd fine and hot, wind varying from N.W.
to S.E., to-day it is S.W." On Wednesday the morning
was dewy with a fine hot day, barometer falling. From the
west coast of Scotland it was aaid, " The weather continues
unusually fine." From the east coast, "We have a. con-
tinuance of brilliant weather ;" while from Lincolnshire it
was written, "During the past week we have experienced
delightful weather, which no doubt has been s: great boon
to the farmers." After a long spell of dry and su'ornhing
weather, which was most acceptable for the northern har-
vest, doing much good to the condition of all corn north 0
the Humber, a sudden change took place early on Thurs-
day morning, when heavy rain fell for several hours, with
the wind from the north, and the temperature lower. This
moisture was most acceptable to the farmers, giving them
an opportunity of proceeding with ploughing on all the
heavy soils which had previously become too hardened to
allow of the work being well done. In other respects; the
showers would be useful and improve the turnips and assist
the mongols much. From Suffolk our advices state : "The
condition of the samples has not much improved with this
fine weather." From Warwickshire it was remarked :
"After 26 days of uninterruptedly fine weather in this dis-
trict, we had a heavy fall of rain last night, which is most
acceptable. Harvest is now secured, and the quality and
condition of the nbw crop vary more than has been known
for years. The spread of the potato disease has become
serious, and turnips have suffered considerably from blight
during the late dry weather. It is certain that the year's
crop cannot be used freely, excepting the few picked sam-
ples, and there must necessarily be a large demand for
American and Black Sea wheats, to give the millers the
strength the new crop will require. There is now a diffe-
rence of fully 10s. per quarter for common new and old
red wheat, which far exceeds the rental of many far-
mers." Friday was a fine autumnal and agreeable day,
the great heat having for the present passed away, ther-
mometer being down to 60 and 62 degrees, wind N.E., ba-
rometer 30.20 and rising. Similar weather was experienced
in the East Riding of Yorkshire, our advices thence stating
—" The weather up to yesterday continued hot and dry,
and very favourable for concluding harvest operations. The
wheat crop in this locality varies considerably, and the yield,
as far as yet ascertained, below an average. Barley is similar
to wheat as to quality, with the yield about an average one."
Saturday was a fine healthy day, and this complete change
in the temperature will set the maltsters to work in good
earnest, as hitherto they have generally been afraid to begin,
though the purchases they made of barley appear to have
been only to be ready when the change came, and the finer
sorts they must now have. These will be but a small por-
tion of the whole ; as two-thirds, most probably, of the
English crop will consist of weathered samples, only fit for
the distillers and feeding purposes. The Scotch growth
will be of a heavy weight, condition dry, but colour high
from the rains experienced before being cut. These, how-
ever, will have a run. The handsomest qualities are those
from the Saale districts, white and heavy; but such have
been run up to an extortionate price by the anxiety of the
ale brewers from Burton-on-Trent to secure so much when
the weather was so unfavourable in England for the crop.
The rates have calmed down a little, and future prices will
depend on the competition from the Trent. The con-
sumption of malt since the 30th of June has been immense,
but up to that date the make had been less in England
than last year. It is generally understood that the largo
_ _ _

maltsters have been well cleared out, and that the stocks
of the great brewers have been much reduced by the
largo consumption of beer throughout the summer months
and up to the present time. The maltsters have there-
fore a clear course to commence this season with, and
much must depend on the quality the new barleys will
make, as to whether the brewers buy freely. The farmers
will now have to turn their attention to the securing
of the•primest samples of seed wheat they can find. In ths
south of England there will be a poor choice, north of the
Humber a better, and north of the Tweed the finest of all.
We have seen a good sample of "red straw" white from the
Lothians weighing 6411b5. per bushel, and red " Spalding"
63'2-lbs., of a bold and handsome berry, and such as can be
recommended as an excellent change for the south. The
best grown in England is the "Nursery," being handsome
and heavy, and those who have a desire to sow thin samples
can secure plenty from the Fens at very moderate prices.--
.3fark-lane Express.