The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

A very severe thunderstorm which visited the Metropo-
lis and many of the country districts on Thursday
evening and Friday morning, was received with universal
welcome. Should the favour be repeated the benefit will
be incalculable. The rainfall on this occasion was very
heavy, but intermittent and disappointing. In London
at about half-past seven on Thursday evening rain fell
in heavy drops, but soon ceased, much to the regret
of those who knew and felt how much moisture
was needed in the country districts. The clouds,
however, again lowered and thickened, and shortly alter
eight o'clock the rain descended in torrents, accompanied
with vivid flashes of lightning and heavy peals of thunder
Heavy showers, with thunder and ligetning, continued at
intervals long past midnight, the storm at about one in
the morning being tremendously severe. At Newbery the
lightning was very vivid and the peals of thunder very
loud. The rain fell heavily for some time. The storm
was of the same kind in other parts of the
country. On Friday morning the sky was still cloudy,
and the atmosphere much cooler. Meanwhile complaint's
do not cease to flow in from all parts of the country, some
statements being so exaggerated as to need considerable
discount. From Bedford an account says :—" It is
believed that rain cannot now save the light land wheat
crops should it come plentifully at once, whilst the heavy
soils would be greatly benefited by it, and might
yield a fair average crop. The barley is doing
very badly, indeed, and under any circumstances
must be put down as well-nigh a complete
failure. The winter beans, which have for several
seasons done so well, appear to have ripened before the
pod is formed, and will, in consequence, be valueless.
The hay crop is a complete failure, and is not worth the
expense of gathering." From North and East Yorkshire
comes the complaint :—" Vegetation is literally parched
up. Pastures are like brown paper in colour, and the
stock is fed with corn cake and other artificial foods, hay,
and potatoes, all of which are getting dearer. The
meadows are bad, and the hay crop must be a failure.
Old hay has risen considerably. The first turnip crop is
completely lost, and the condition of the land is preventing
farmers from sowing the white turnp, although for this
variety there is yet time for a good crop should sufficient
rain fall in June. Stock is suffering much from drought."
It is to be hoped that the rainfall will continue, and
alleviate this state of fright.
In France the price of provisions continues to augment
daily. Bread, meat, and vegetables are creeping up in
price. Corn and fodder have risen in proportion to the
continuance of the drought. The extreme heat and pro-
tracted drought have so parched the undergrowth in the
forests near Paris that, like tinder, it will ignite from a
spark. At Fontainebleau a few days since a portion of the
forest was burnt, and it was many hours before the progress
of the flames could be arrested. On Tuesday a fire broke
out in a portion of the Bois de M 6, situate not very
distant from Versailles, and about a mile from Bibvres.
The Pompiers from the neighbouring towns were sum-
moned, but their efforts were useless, the trees burning
rapidly and fiercely, while of water there was not
a drop to be procured. A large body of work-
men were sent from Versailles, who with 120 artillery-
men, set to work to cut down the trees and dig
trenches in order to arrest the flames. Subsequently
60 Husears and two brigades of gendarmes arrived and
took part in the work, but late on Tuesday night the
fire was still burning fiercely, and about fourteen acres
had been completely devastated. Letters from Algeria
confirm the news that the grain crop is extremely good,
and that the meadows have given an abundance of hay.
However, the country skirting the desert suffers from
locusts. The corn crops in Arkansas and Mississippi
have been severely damaged by a tornado.