The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-20 00:00:00

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

It would be a difficult task (says the Essex Herald)
to exaggerate the importance of the issues hanging upon
the coming harvest. We turn thereto with mingled feel-
ings of hope and fear ; the former, however, greatly pre-
dominating, for up to the present the crops appear to be
progressing towards maturity very satisfactorily. The still
and balmy atmosphere of the last fortnight has been
highly conducive to the well blooming and setting of the
wheats. The fields look well, and promise an abundant
yield of corn. We feel warranted in asserting that sel-
dom or never has the main produce of the land—viz.,
wheat, barley, and oats—at this time of year lookedbetter,
or promised a more abundant harvest. The potato crop
has proved good.—The Liverpool Standard says:—" The
wheat plants in South Wales look healthy and strong,
and have, to a great extent, improved by the late falls of
rain ; and, should fine weather be vouchsafed, there is
every promise of an abundant yield. The potato breadths
are noticed as looking very healthy, and great hope is
entertained that this year the !might 'will be escaped."
The cereal crops about Glasgow are reported by the
North British Daily Mail as looking very healthy, and
potatoes indicate an abundant yield. In mid-Kent the
farmers still complain (says the South Eastern Gazette)
of the unfavourable state of the weather for almost every
description of crop except turnips, carrots, &c., which
are now growing luxuriantly. The wheat is looking
strong and healthy in most places, but from the large
quantity of rain which has fallen and the sodden state
of the ground the harvest will be late, and unless hot,
dry weather should shortly set in the quality
must needs be greatly deteriorated. The Sussex
Advertiser says :—" Great efforts are being made by
holders of wheat to support prices, and they have
been in some degree assisted by the unsettled state of the
weather. A fine week or two of settled summer weather
would bring the question of price to a speedy issue, for
everywhere the accounts of the crops confirm—to the full
valuable but attractive articles of food." The Derby-
shire Courier says :—" All that is now required is fins
and warm weather for ripening the produce of every de-
scription. The wheat is not only thick upon the ground,
but so healthy and vigorous as to havelbeen rarely sur-
passed. Should fine weather now prevail, the yield will
—the previous favourable reports. There are some slight
rumours of blight in the potatoes, but as a rule the reports
of that crop are most satisfactory, and the tubers are of
a size and quality that promise to render them not only
be extremely large. The potato crop never looked more
healthy or promising." The Hereford Times reports that
the wheats in that district, though unquestionably thin, are
looking very well, and a full average business is antici-
pated. Reports from the western counties state the
cereal crops are generally very promising. The late
rains retarded the hay harvest, and in some places there
will be a deficient crop ; but, fine weather having now
set in, it is hoped that the hay crop, on the whole, will
be an average one. The potatoes are most luxuriant.
In Devonshire the crop never promised to be more
abundant, and as yet there are no signs of disease.
Fruit and vegetables in the latter county are very plen-
tiful and cheap, and agricultural produce has generally
declined in price. Wheat sold in many of the markets
of Devonshire during the last week at 9s. 6d. to 10s. per
bushel. A few weeks ago the quotations were from
10s. 6d. to 1 ls. per bushel. If the weather is fine for
harvesting, the price of grain will be much lower, it is
thought, than it is at present.