The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-23 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Reviewing the harvest work of the last w eek the
Magnet says it has again been rapidly. proceeded with, no
untoward circumstance having transpired to check opera-
tions. With a few isolated exceptions the grain has
been secured in Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester,
and all counties more southerly situated, and it seems
more than probable that with another fortnight of dry
weather the harvest in these isles will have been brought
to a conclusion under most favourable auspices. Nothing
has transpired since we last wrote to alter our opinion as
to the ultimate yield of the crops. We are still disposed
to maintain that the growth of wheat per acre, although
very variable, is still up to the average. One fact,
however, which will probably influence values to some
extent, must not be lost sight of, namely, that the low
prices current for weat since last harvest, and the
comparative high range in the currencies of spring corn
caused farmers to place less land under wheat than
usual, therefore the actual quantity of grain secured can-
not be called an average crop. One decided feature in
fay our of this year's growth is the plumpness and dry-
ness of the grain rendering it immediately available
for the market. Further accounts with reference to the
spring corn crops do not lead us to alter our opinion
that it will fall considerably short of the average. Roots
generally are well spoken of, and despite the late severe
drought, a good crop of man,golds and swedes will be got
in, and will thus assist in relieving the expense likely to
be incurred by graziers and breeders, during the winter
months, through the failure of the hay crop. The pastures
and meadow lands have slightly improved, but there is still
a great scarcity of food for stock.
According to Bell's Weekly Messenger we have been
particularly fortunate this year as regal' Is the weather
during the harvest season. The crops have been carried
with great rapidity, and the harvest in England may now
be regarded as completed. Wheats have been
generally secured in excellent condition ; so much so that
in some instances thrashing has at once been proceeded
with, and the produce has been sent direct to market.
Cases have occurred where carrying has been retarded in
consequence of frequent and heavy storms, but these are
exceptional, and the subsequent dry weather has reme-
died any damage that otherwise resulted. Even now,
notwithstanding the somewhat liberal supplies of new
produce sent forward, it is hazardous to venture a final
opinion upon the results of the crop. The account
received from different parts of the country vary greatly ;
but the yield, as we have already pointed out, has
chiefly depended upon the character of the soil and
the time of sowing. When large quantities of wheat
have been thrashed out we shall be better able to
judge of the result of the harvest ; but the opinions
we have expressed all along appear to have been amply
verified so far. The new wheats exhibited at Mark-
lane have beep. of good quality and in excellent condition,
and the supplies have been rather large. The barley crop
is very irregular, and oats are very deficient : these two
may be regarded as the worst crops of the year, though
some excellent samples of barley have come under our
notice. Beans and peas are deficient, though less so than
was at one time anticipated.
The Mark Lane Express says the weather in the mid-
land and southern counties during the past week
has been all that could be desired for the har
vest, but towards the close there were heavy
rains in Yorkshire, threatening the outstanding crops,
and farmers were consequently less disposed to offer
their samples in the expectation of better prices.
Wheat has been falling in France while flour has been
rising at Paris, from the scarcity of the manafactured
article, and shews plainly enough the fear of a
Prussian advance upon an unprovided city. Prices
generally throughout Europe have been gradually
tending downwards, and supplies are coming freely to
Odessa, but the fall here and in France is likely to
check heavy shipments. The weather hitherto has been
as favourable to Prussia as the war, and though the
want of hands must delay the gathering, they may yet be
saved in good condition ; but should a peace be speedily,
concluded, we do not anywhere find so great an abun-
dance as to sanction the return to very low prices.

The Orchestra learns from private sources that the
parting scene between the King of Denmark and the
Princess of Wales lately, was heartrending.
The Corriere del Campo of Naples publishes a
despatch from Palermo, announcing that Joseph Mazzini
has been transferred'on board a ship of war, where he is
to await the decision of the Minister.
The marriage of Mr. George Sackville Frederick
Lane Fox, eldest son of Mr. George Lane Fox, of Bram-
ham Park, and Miss Slade, daughter of General Marcus
Slade, is arranged to take place on the 10th of next
month.
The petition against the return of Mr. Gwynne
Holford, recently elected for Brecon, in the room of Lord
Clarendon, has been duly presented, and the recognis-
ances entered into for prosecuting it. It is not expected to
be heard before October.
The North German Lloyd's Company have issued
a circular, expressing a belief that the success of the Ger-
man army will shortly enable them to publish the dates
of departure of their ships for New York, Baltimore, New
Orleans, Havannah, Japan, and China.
Mr. Thomas Parsons, barrister-at-law, who has
from time to time been addressing a number of extraor-
dinary letters to her Majesty the Queen, under the nom
de plume of " The Washerwoman of INlelbourne," has
committed suicide at Melbourne in a very singular
manner.
TILE GERMAN VESSELS IN PORT.—There are nine
large North German ocean steamers now lying in the port
of New York, unable to sail for Hamburg or Bremen for
fear of capture by French cruisers, unauthorised to dis-
charge their crewsin a foreign port, and not allowed to
register themselves under the flag of safety—the flag of
the. United States. There are also twenty-seven sailing
vessels in the same predicament. If anything
can exemplify the stupidity of Congress in
refusing to admit foreign vessels to American
register this startling exhibit does so. The expense
to which these steamers and sailing vessels are subjected
probably aggregates fourteen thousand dollars per day,and
there is no relief for them except in the cessation of the
war. It may be, too, that the French steamers will be
tied up in just the same way when the Prussian navy
gets more of it cruisers afloat. As it is now here is over
two million dollars' worth of property which we need
lying at our door useless and unused through the cul-
pable neglect of Congress.— New York Herald.

ALLEGED FRADDHON THE GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY.—
At the Mansion House, Joseph Thomas Avery (28),
Edward Avery (19) his brother, John Jordan (22), John
Parsonage (42), and Peter Johnson Badger (24),
were brought up on remand before Mr. Alderman Carter,
charged with being concened in a conspiracy to
defraud the Great Eastern Railway Company.—The
prisoners were charged with being concerned in frauds
which, it was stated, had been carried on for several
years. Joseph Avery was a clerk in the booking-office at
Fenchurch-street,where tickets are issued for Blackwall and
other stations on that part of the Great Eastern Railway
system. His brother was not connected with the railway,
but was a frequent traveller on the line. Jordan and
Badger were ticket-collectors, and Parsonage was a
custom-house messenger. Tickets, after being issued at
Feirhurch-street, are "nicked" on the stairs, and given
up in that state at the station at the other end. The
usual course would then be to send the tickets
to the general office, but it was proved that
many of these tickets were • brought back to
Fenchurch-street, and re-issued for the sake of
a small sum of money, or a glass of beer.
When Joseph Avery was apprehended twenty-eight
" nicked" tickets and £6 in gold were found in his pos-
session. In the possession of the younger Avery and
Jordan and Badger were also found "nicked " tickets, and
according to the evidence of a young man who had been
watching the prisoners, Parsonage stated that he had tra-
velled on the line for twelve or fifteen years, and had
never paid for a ticket except on six or seven occasions.
In the three days that followed the arrest of the elder
Avery the receipts at the Fenchurch-street booking-office
rose £lO. The prisoners were further remanded till Fri-
day next, and bail was refused.