The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-04 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL__REPORT FOR

_ -
NOVEMBER.
(From the farmer's Magazine.)
Foremost in importance to the agricultural body at
this particular period of the year is the state of the
Weather for out-door farm operations. That experienced
during nearly or quite the whole of the month just
brought to a conclusion has proved unusually propitious
to the sowing of the winter wheats ; hence, as a matter
of cdurse, that work has progressed with considerable
rapidity, and under the most favourable auspices. In
many parts of England the plants have already appeared
above ground, and it is highly gratifying for us to be
enabled to observe that we Hever recollect to have seen
them finer or in a more healthy state. These observa-
tions refer, be it understood, not to any particular
locality, but to most our large corn districts, over which
we have travelled for the purpose of forming our con-
clusions respecting the many features of interest to our
farmers. The'value of the opinion frequently expressed,
that a change in our import laws must have the effect of
throwing out of cultivation a large portion of our wheat
lands, from the inability of the home growers to compete
with the foreigner, is now about to be tested. We our-
selves have looked upon the late alteration in the corn-
laws as indicative of low prices here in years of great
abundance ; but, at the same time, we have endeavoured
to enforce our honest conviction that it would be utterly
impossible for farming to be carried on in this country,
unless wheat—by far the most valuable crop we can pro-
duce—continue to form the principal article of growth
with us. This point of our argument cannot be more
fairly illustrated than by experience ; and, from what we
have recently witnessed, and from the remarks of our
numerous correspondents, we maintain that the year
1847 will show a much larger breadth of land under
wheat than has been the case during the last ten years.
We would observe this is no idle assumption, though it
is a most conclusive proof of the energy of our
agriculturists to keep pace with the rapidly increasing
wants of the population. Many parties may feel dis-
posed to argue that the increased cultivation we have
here alluded to is purely the result of the prevailing
comparatively high prices. To an extent, such is un-
questionably the case ; but feelin strongly impressed
with our extensive and increasing wants as a nation, and
the great necessity for supplying these wants, in
order that at future periods we may be independent as
far as possible of all contingencies, the result of depen-
dence upon the foreign cultivators, and, further, the im-
portance of keeping the labouring population fully em-
ployed and well fed, all which matters are closely con-
nected with native industry, we very much doubt whether
—unless indeed our general policy, commercial as well
as political. receive an unexpected ancf, by some, long,.
dreaded convulsion—the prices of wheat will ever be
lowered to that point at which it will be impossible to
cultivate it. It would perhaps be unfair for us to draw
inferences from the past season, what has been one of
extreme interest, and in which we have had to report the
failure not only of the potato.crop, but likewise a consi-
derable falling off in the produce of all kinds of spring
corn ; all which circumstances have increased the con-
sumption of wheat far beyond that of the ordinary run
of years. Still, in our judgment, it would be opposed
to a practical view of matters to argue that the cultiva-
tion of wheat will be materially affected by the import-
ation of a few hundred thousand quarters of foreign
grain annually.
The next point to which we shall direct attention is
the state of the stocks of wheat, both old and new, in
the hands of the home growers. The stocks of last year's
growth are very limited, and a few weeks will make a
total clearance of them ; but, notwithstanding the un-
usually large deliveries at the various markets, which
have been made in excellent condition, those or the pre-
sent season are good and of prime quality. Here, then,
is a matter which cannot fail to have some influence
upon future prices, and maintain a sensible effect upon
consumption. This subject being one of the most vital
interest to our readers, a few observations upon the
statements which have found their way into many con-
temporary prints may
.be useful. 'Ort the subject of
the relative value of wheat we have- already expressed
ourselves to the effect that though the imports of grain
from America and elsewhere may be large during the
coming year, the demand will not be more than ade-
quately supplied ; hence present rates may be consi-
dered tolerably safe.
•
We have read with much attention the numerous
highly-coloured statementstates to su p
p ly respecting
with h the capabilities "
bread stuffs;"
yet we see nothing whatever in them to create any
uneasiness—circumstanced as we are at the present
moment—or that a great fall in our quotations will be
produced thereby, for the simple reason that from no
other quarter of the globe can we expect to derive large
supplies of corn for a considerable period. High prices
—at least much higher than those now ruling in our
markets—we do not anticipate, because we feel j ustified
thisitsesason is
in the assertion that the evils resulting from the partial
failure in the potato crop—partial we only consider it—
and the comparative falling off in the supplies of barley,
oats, beans, and peas, have been greatly albeviinted by
the large quantities of grain and flour which have passed
plea Id beyond
the customs for home consumption, since the conunence-
superior description, consequently is of a very
yielding: a much
amount of really good flour than ordinal ry. These
greater
induce us to e •
circumstances, therefore, .onceiv( I that we
can entertain no idea of a famine, of famine nri es,
c or of
haa
doubteflt ef
tthhaet presentthe wheayte ar.
produced Ag a
a great depression in our market. r
In the early part of the month—at which time the mil-
lers and others were well in stock, and the supplies o f most
grain on offer considerably on the incressse--cce ewe-
tively little business was transacted in wheat: (Jr other
articles, and the quotations suffered a pretty general de-
cline ; but towards the close the demand became sisnady,
though the actual abatement previously submitted b's was
not recovered. Less activity has been observed i n the
demand for both fat and lean stock, and, in son ie in-
stances, the currencies have had a downward ten( lency.
This latter circumstance must, in a great measa re, be
attributed to the immense importations of foreign stock,
which have taken place under the new tariff, in L ondon
and at the various outports, which have greatly exc .eeded
those of any month during the present year.
The fact that the potatoes have been on the irx !mase
in the metropolis and elsewhere, and that the cow on
of that esculent has much improved, is strongly corr o bo-
rative of the views we have all along expressed, ef. pe-
cially as prices have fallen from 10s. to 15s. per ton,
viz., that the actual losses by the disease have been over-
estimated, as far as England and Scotland are es in-
cerned.

It is very satisfactory to observe that the turreiprand