The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-12 00:00:00

SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL

REPORTS.

I(From the Caledonian Mercury.)
EAST LOTHIAN.— During the first three weeks of the
month showers were both frequent and heavy, the total'
fall of rain in October being three inches and four-tenths.
On the morning of Monday last the ground was white
with hoar frost, a thin coating of ice covered the small
pools of water on the road—still the weather, on the
whole, has been very mild for the season of the year, the
thermometer generally ranging from 45 to 55 degre's. A
few fields were sown with wheat at the close of last
month and the commencement of this ; but, from the
continued wetness of the land nothing more has been
done until within the last two or three days, when some
farmers have been making a beginning by sowing the*
last ploughed or driest portions of their bean land. What.
has been done is neatly finished off, but notwithstanding-
the earliness of the harvest, there is scarcely as much'
sown as there was last year at this time. However, dry'
weather for another week or fourteen days would allow a•
great deal to be sown, as a large proportion of the land
intended for winter wheat has been already ploughed.
There is also a greater breadth of stubble turned over
than is usual at this period. The mild weather has been
favourable for the growth of the turnip crop. The
Swedish variety generally have imp roved considerably,
though the late sown of all kinds are a light crop still.
Wher. stock have been already put on them, it is under-
stood that they are not standing anything like the same
amount of eating as they have done for the last two
years. Pasture grass is more abundant than it has been
for many years. The quantity of keep that has been got
from young grass has allowed old pastures to get well.
up, so that should the winter prove tolerably open, fewer
turnips than usual will be required for sheep stock, and
which may t-nd to make the inferiority of this crop less
felt. From the wet state the land has been often in, it
has been at titres rather difficult to remove turnips even
from the driest soils, and she p, where folded on them,
have had frequently to be removed to pasture fields.—
Oct. 31.
WEST LOTHIAN.—In consequence of the pre-
dominance of rain during this month, the sowing of
wheat has been considerably retarded, and unless the
weather assume a more favourable aspect, in many cases
the seed will not be got into the ground this season.
Early-sown wheat, however, looks well, and, if any-
thing, threatens to be a shade too rank. The turnip
crop has turned out better than expected, The alarm
regarding it has passed away, and all varieties may be
pronounced to be in a healthy state, growing apace, and
a fair crop generally. During this month pasturage has
been luxuriant beyond usual at this season, and the
young grasses thick and thriving. Wheat is a fair yield,
and may be averaged at 34 bushels per Scots acre, sound
in quality, and weighing from 58 to 63 lbs. Barley at
40 bushels—from 50 to 51 lbs. ; and oats at 48 bushels

—from 38 to 39 lbs. Beans are much under an average.
Oats are found to meal well, but distillers complain that
the produce from barley is below that of ordinary years,
weight for weight. In no part of Scotland has the de-
struction of the potato been more complete than in West
Lothian. But we do not despair of this crop, as it is
probable that the disease will run its course and disap-
pear.—Oct. 30.
FIFESHIRE.—The few patches of grain which were
outstanding at the beginning of the month have all been
secured, after having suffered from sprout and otherwise.
The weather has been exceedingly wet. very unfavour-
able for all out-door work, and little or nothing has been
done to the wheat seed. We never, within ourzecollea-
don, saw so little wheat sown at this season. The
wheat after fallow is looking well, except on some damp
spots, where the seed has perished from excess of mois-
ture. The weather, although wet, has been warm.
There have been only one or two frosty mornings, which
have had almost no effect in checking vegetation, and
the pastures are everywhere as green as if it were mid-
summer, Turnips upon thick dry ground have been
Improving, but there has been too much rain for theta
in general, and they are a light crop, and small in the
bulb. The potatoes may be said, especially in the north
of Fife, to be a complete failure. The few that remain
in the ground will not pay the expense of lifting—and
they are only taken up in many instances to get rid of
them as a weed. The potato failure is of a much more
serious nature than was generally anticipated, and its
effects are only now beginning to be felt, not only in the
want of the potato itself, but in the want of the pig,
the high price of provisions, and in the scanty meal of
many.—Nov. 3.
KINCARDINESHIRE.—It is very fortunate that the har-
vest was got so early and well securel, for, had it been
as late as usual, it is more than probable a large portion
of the crop would have been much injured, as since the
19th of September, the weather upon the whole has been
excessively wet, with a mild temperature. At that pe-
riod the land was remarkably dry, indeed drier than we
recollect to have seen it at that period of the year, and
the turnips were suffering much from want of moisture,
but they at last got a proper sulking, and for sometime
bygone those on undrained land have been kept far toe
wet. The heavy rains, however, put a stop to the mil-
dew with which a good many of the early fields had be-
gun to be effected ; and as most of the withered leaves
have now fallen down, the crop has a more
fresh appearance than it had a month ago.
The late turnips have improved a good deal
since harvest, and may yet turn out a middling crop ;
but there are complaints that the bulbs of both the early
and late are increasing but slowly. The grass fields
are still quite fresh and green. Very few of the field
potatoes are yet taken up, or are considered worth the
labour of raising and pickin.r. Little can be added to
what we formerly stated regarding the corn crops. They
are generally allowed to be yielding fair to the straw at
the thrashing mill, but that the bulk in the stack-yard
is a good deal less than that of last year. As to quality,
early barley, off good soils, weighs about 53 ns. per
bushel, and a small portion of the best from that to
54i lhs. Oats are fully as varied in quality; and, where
injured, ai they were in some cases by rust and mildew,
the return will be very deficient, and the grain decidedly
bad.—Nov. 4.

SOUTH DISTRICT OF FORFARSHIRE.—AIthough during
the first three weeks of this month an extraordinary
quantity of rain fell, and, in consequence, wheat sowing
has been put a stop to, yet at the period we write, the
work of the plough and general field operations are well
advanced. The new crop of wheat continues, from
most accounts, to thrash out well, although, as might
have been expected, the quality is a good deal affected
by the damp weather. Although there is little specu-
lative inquiry, and in the face of considerable deliveries,
this valuable article continues to bring high prices—but
this is not surprising, when it is admitted at all hands
that a great increased consumption is at present going
on. A feeling being now generally prevalent that our
barley crop is of inferior yield, has caused an unusally
spirited demand for this article, which, since our last
report, has in consequence advanced from Bs. to 10s.
per quarter, the price being 395. for 53 lbs. per bushel.
If the trade in this article may seem somewhat too spe-
culative and unhealthy, it cannot be so said of wheat
and oats, the supplies of which seem pretty nearly suited
to the consumptive demand.—Nov. 3.

GRAND POLISH BALL AND CONCERT AT GUILD-
HALL, ON WEDNESDAY, THE 18TH INST.—We are glad
to have it in our power to announce that the approach-
ing entertainment will, this year, be on a scale of un-
usual splendour. Notwithstanding the decorative ar-
rangements preserved from the Lord Mayor's day, some
further embellishments have been added by the Com-
mittee of Management to render the scene of the evening
of the 18th worthy of the object for which it is intended,
and a select concert, at which most of our emi-
nent vocalists have promised to assist gratuitously,
will take place in the Council-room ; and the
magnificent tapestry worked by the ladies of
Poland, and presented by them to „Lord Dudley
Stuart will also be exhibited in some conspicuous
part of the ball. A remarkable feature of this annual
fête is the patronage granted to it, not only by
.the
citizens of London, but by a large numb'r of the aristo-
cracy, and no less than six Cabinet Ministers, and there
is no doubt that some of them will attend the ball.
Everything conducive to the brillancy and the comfort
of the elegant and nun erous'company which are expected,
has been most liberally provided; and it is not surprising
that more than half of the tickets have already been sold.
To the votaries of amusement it is a tempting opportu-
nity which they must not neglect, if they wish to behold
one of the most brilliant balls of the year.
THE WORKS AT THE NELSON COLUMN.-It is
stated that the long procrastinated completion of the
works on the Nelson Column in Trafalgar-square will
very soon be finally brought to a close. Workmen have
been actively employed on the work during the last
few days.
R. J. EATON, ESQ., M.P.—A paragraph, originat-
ing with the Times, has gone the round of the press,
stating that this gentleman haft died at Malta. This
rumour
elwieavd
sep,r
althougheval en t for
at somethe time, and
tim was
time
It veryas cgeeen7--
dered rather remarkable that the family of the 11.os n.
Gentleman had received no information r
We can now state, on good authority, that by
v h e
'ell ,st
accounts Mr. Eaton is reported hto have beet
outto riiallta-
hthteseulb latest
and that his medical attendant as
Advertiser.
state of his
gingbr
health will permit.—Canz
been
successful have the expe-
riments FARES.—S 0
with the view of bring
gme home
systemistis now fromnp Iriauc nt ee r foonr dththe Market
line tool. Pr
road
from the Eastern Counties Railway to the Elephant and
Castle, the fare being threepence.
Pad-
dington, i n gton, on
thatt h
FOREIGN CHESTNIITS.—The arrival of chestnuts
from abroad within these few days have been of a very
extensive character, they being very plentiful this sea-
son, not only here but on the Continent.
Lady Shuckburgh died at Shuckburgh Park,
Warwickshire, on Sunday last. Her Ladyship was
daughter of Peter Dennys, Esq., and cousin to the Earl
of Pomfret, and married, 1825, the present Sir Francis
Shuckburgh, Bart.
Viscount Morpeth received at dinner
an:the
evening at Carlisle House, Grosvenor-place,
wSisi,r
Mr. and
Grey, Mr. Macaulay, Mr. Parker, Lady Morgan,
Prince Tagore, Mr. Lewis and Lady L
Mrs. Bancroft, Baron and Lady Parke, Mr. and Mrs.
Holland, &c.

FORGERY BY A. POSTMASTER.-011 Tuesday pro-
clamations were posted throughout the metropolis, offer-
ing a reward of fifty guineas for the apprehension of Mr.
James Morse. chemist and druggist, of Barnet, Hert-
fordshire, who has filled the office of deputy postmaster
for a considerable time past. It appears that Morse has
committed forgeries to a very great extent on the Post-
office, which, coming to the knowledge of the authorities,
they endeavoured to arrest the delinquent, but Morse
had fled a few hours previously to the arrival of the
officers, and is supposed to have gone to the United

States. .
REPRESENTATION OF RENFREW SHlRE.—Colond
Mure, of Caldwell, has offered himself as a candidate for
the representation in Parliament of the county of Ren-
frew, vacant by the death of Mr. P. M. Stewart.—Cale-
doßian Mercury.