The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-25 00:00:00

THE HARVEST PROSPECTS.

STAFFORDSHIRE.—In this county, during the week, a
good deal of rain has fallen, and the temperature has
been low. We do not hear that the grain crops have at
present suffered, though, of course, warm, bright, dry
weather is now very desirable for ripening the grain and
gathering it. Reaping has partially commenced, and the
prospect of good crops is, Gn the whole, cheering ; and
nothing but a very long continuance of wet can prevent,
according to human probability, an abundant harvest.
With respect to turnips, which promiied so wt 11 a fort-
night ago, reports say that they appear to be affected to
some extent, and in some instances by a similar disease
to that which affects the potato. We trust, however,
that the extent is very limited, and the instances very
few. Of the potato itself, we are sorry to be obliged to
report unfavourably. The potato crops looked magnifi-
cently until about ten days ago ; and a general opinion
prevailed that, from the appareet vigour and greenness
of the haulm and leaves, and the size and number of
tubcrs at every rout, the disease had at length been
effectually overcome. That, however, was a flattering.
delusion. The disease has suddenly and almost univer-
sally appeared. Toe tops are becoming- black and de-
cayed; and , the tubers are examined, about one-
tiord of them appear to he affected. As the crops,
however, are nom-I:ally good, it is hoped that even )et
a tolerably large supply of good sound potatoes may be
preserved.—Steffordshire Advertiser.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE.— Av.aiti we have had a delightful
liarve,,t week, and the fertile fields have been the haply
slenes of indu try. Mowing awl reaping is now general,
and the carting is becoming so. A feet showers have
fallen, which have scarcely retarded harvest operations,
whilst they have been of considerable benefit to the
turnip crop. We hear from many quarters that the
corn already cut is excellent in quality.—Cambridge
Independent Press.
WILTSHIRE.—In several parts of the country the wheat
harvest has commenced, and in the neighbourhood of
Warminster considerable quantities of corn have been
cut, and some harvested in. good condition. Though
laid in some parts, and thin in others, the crop will, cep
tte whole,her o
expected,
should anything like favoura'de
e atout a full average. The potato
riecri it
tiiisme , turn
crop has during the past week, in some localities, proved
to have been much more diseased than was hoped would
have been the case ; and the onions, for which the dms
trict round Warminster especiallyisfamous, have suffered
to a great extent from the ravages of maggots, which
destroy the bulbs.

WESTMORELAND.—Saturday and Sunday (week) were
pelting days of rain, but since then, with the exception
of a few thunder showers, the weather has been favour-
able for the growing crops. The harvest has already
commenced in this neighbourhood, and if the weather
only continue] favourable for a few days the sickle will
be i❑ full operation. The grain crops throughout West-
moreland are excellent, and few farmers can remember
the year in which they had a better or heavier green
crop.—Kendal Mercury.
CUMBERLAND.—The weather during the week has not
been as favourable for the crops as could have been
wished, rain having fallen somewhat copiously on Satur-
day and Sunday( week) ; but since then the atmosphere
has cleared up, and the crops do not appear to have suf-
fered serious damage. The potato blight, we are sorry to
announce, has made its unwelcome appearance in this
neighbourhood. On every side and in every distriet its
presence is more or less apparent ; and although in the
majority of instances the disease is only partial, yet in
many places large tracts of land which only a few days
before bore.a healthy and luxuriant crop of this impor-
tant item of food, in a single night were rendered black
and drooping. In the neighbourhood of Wigton, we
hear that the disease has in some instances set in with
such virulence, that, as a las; resource, the plants have
been removed from theground, in the hope of saving some
portion of the potatoes in a sound state. The disease,
however, has not as yet made much progress in our im-
mediate vicinity. From careful inquiries which we have
made amongst the neighbouring farmers, we are glad to
he able to add that the disease has not progressed with
any rapidity since last week.—Carlisle Journal.