The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-11 00:00:00

THE HARVEST.

The weather having been uniformly dry and
favourable since Thursday last, an immense breadth
of grain has been cut, and a much larger quantity
placed under " thack and rape" than could have been
anticipated. Up till Tuesday the weather had been
dry and bright, with just enough of wind to
prepare the sheaves for the stack-yard. The mercury
in the barometer then fell rapidly; the wind blew un-
steadily from point to point with increasing force till
yesterday, when it blew quite a gale, which no doubt
has shaken to a considerable extent the ripe crop.
There was no cessation of labour, however,
reaping and leading having been carried on
without interruption. In this neighbourhood,
and in other early districts, from a half to
two-thirds of the whole white crop was cut, and fully
a third placed in the stack. The bulk is less equal,
and less on the whole than was calculated on, but as
the yield on the barn floor is expected to be good, the
general result will be at least a full average. The
quality is unexceptionable. The potato disease has
made no progress during the past week, having been
arrested by the dry weather, and until there be a fall
of rain, which seems at hand, will no doubt remain
stationary. That the seeds of it exist, although in an in-
cipient state, it were vain to deny—but the extent of its
ravages will most probably depend on the weather.
If the atmosphere be dry, mild, and breezy, the loss
will be comparatively small. If we shall have a track
of rainy weather, or if frost set in before the tubers
are thoroughly ripened, the loss will be considerable.
It should not be forgotten, however, that even in the
most favourable year, and before the disease was heard
of, the loss from rot was seldom less than from 10 to 15
per cent. Looking to the great breadth which has
been planted, a loss of double that amount would not
be felt as a very serious matter, and, indeed, may al-
most be looked for. There is little probability that they
shall he so cheap during the winter as to admit of
being extensively used, as in past times, as a substitute
for bread; nor ought this result to he a matter of general
regret. While used as a mere vegetable along
with butcher meat or fish, they serve their highest
and best purpose, but when substituted for bread, and
lepended on as an article of food, they are clearly
nisemployed, and both as regards their perishable
nature, and innutritious quality, the cultivation of
them or any other purpose than that of an excellent
and delicious vegetable, and as a wholesome and
valuable accompaniment to animal food, ought to be
discouraged.—Caledonian Mercury.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a delightful day, and
must have cheered the heart of the farmer, but the
warmth would bring the sweat to the brow of the
reaper. The week has been dry, and the only draw-
backs were the heavy winds and cold nights. " The
wind that shakes the barley" is not always the friend
of the husbandman ; and both wheat and barley have
suffered from the severe shaking which the ripened
grain received. Indeed, we believe we are correct in
saying, that this cause has materially affected the re-
turns of these kinds of grain ; and that in Nairnshire
and parts at least of this county the crop will turn out
less profitable than was expected a week or two ago.
Oats, not so far advanced, have not been injured, and
promise to be a splendid crop. The opinion of several
agricultural gentlemen with whom we have spoken
is, that although the crop may not equal that of last
year, it will still be fully an average. Less is said of
the potato disease. It undoubtedly appeared three or
four weeks ago, but whether checked by the frost,
which itself blackened many fields, or from some other
causes, it does not appear to have spread. The crop,
too, is unusually large and fine.—lnverness Courier.

SAFFRON WALDON.—The weather has continued
delightfully fine throughout the week, acting most
beneficially on the late barley, and bringing it to
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and been carried in good condition, though probably
bate
f oornee t thi em s°c;vtahre,
the sample will not turn out so fine for malting pur-
poses as could have been desired. Our farmers have
ample cause for satisfaction in the produce of their
fields; a few more fine days will see them cleared of
their precious produce. The green crops are luxuri-
antly rich, affording plenty of grazing for the cattle,
and a good prospect of winter food. The rain has
not been excessive in this district during any part of
the season, and followed by dry winds, has proved
exceedingly refreshing and beneficial to the ripening
corn and green crops in particular, potatoes unfortu-
nately excepted. In our market on Saturday, the
finest samples of wheat (old and new) suffered a
decline of 25., and the inferior and damp descriptions
from ss. to Gs.—Essex Standard.

DEVIZES.—During the past week we have had
several very fine days ; indeed, from Thursday to
Tuesday not a drop of rain fell in this immediate
neighbourhood. Of course great progress was made in
the harvest work, and we believe we may state that
in this county all the wheat is now secured, and in
very decent condition. The barley, too, is nearly
all cut, and a large proportion of it is carried ; and
although the sample will be coarse and dark, the
crop is not very materially injured.—Wiltshire Inde-
pendent.
STOURBRIDGE.—The last few days of fine weather,
so long desired, have not been suffered to pass away
unimproved by the farmers in this district, large
quantities of grain, both wheat and barley, having
been safely housed in very tolerable condition ; in-
deed very few crops of wheat remain in the fields,
either cut or standing. The crop of barley is far
better than was anticipated during the period of the
last unpropitious weather. On the whole, the har-
vest prospects in this district have assumed a much
more satisfactory appearance than, under late circum-
stances, might reasonably have been expected.—Ten
Towns Messenger.
GAINSBOROUGII.—The continued fine weather per-
mits the latter harvest to be gathered in, in excellent
condition. The reports respecting the potato disease
are of an extremely conflicting character; on the
whole, we may predict, as we did last year (and
which the result verified), that the damage done to
the crop is not nearly so serious as has been repre-
sented.—Lihcoln Mercury.
C ‘ISIOR.—For the last week the weather has been
all that the farmer could wish. Nearly the whole of
the wheat in this neighbourhood has been carried, in
splendid condition ; and should the same favourable
weather continue for a short time longer the whole of
the spring corn will be also secured. The potatoes to
a certain extent are bad, but from the great breadth
planted, and the productive yield, it is considered by
many experienced growers that in this neighbourhood
this valuable esculent for the poor man's table will be
found sufficient to meet the demand during the winter.
—Lincoln Mercury.
The weather, since our last notice, has continued
exceedingly favourable for the business of the harvest,
which is in full operation in every quarter. A great
deal of corn has been cut and a considerable quantity
housed ; but a large breadth of land yet remains to be
shorn. We fancy we have perceived some symptoms
of the besetting sin of north-country farming—slug-
gishness in getting the crops off the ground, after
they are ready for leading. We should think that
there are not a hundred acres of unripe corn in this
county ; and we trust we shall next week have to
announce that there is not so much out of doors.
The reports as to the potatoes continue satisfactory.—
Durham Chronicle.

THE ARMY AND NAVY.
(From the United Service Gazette.)
THE COLONELCY OF THE 83D REGIMENT. Major-
General Sir Frederick Stovin, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., has
been appointed to the Colonelcy of this regiment, vice
Lieutenant. General Fraser, who goes to the 61st, vacant
by the demise of Lieutenant-General L'Estrange.
CHATHAM GARRISON. The Detachment Hospital
being about to undergo some extensive alterations, with
a view to increase the accommodation and comfort of
the sick soldiers in the garrison, the men under treat-
ment have been removed to the Artillery Barracks until
the necessary alterations have been completed. It is
understood that the building will be raised an additional
story.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.—Staff Assistant-Surgeon
Shegog, M.D., has been relieved from duty at Chatham,
for the purpose of preparing for embarkation, on service,
to Barbadoes ; and Staff Assistant-Surgeon Manifold
has been appointed to do duty at the Detachment Hos-
pital at Chatham until further orders.
MAJOR- GENERAL BGNBURY.—We have much plea-
sure in announcing the appointment of Major• General
Bunbury to the command at Jamaica (which, we lately
stated was vacant by General Macdonald 's appointment
to the Irish Staff), to which his length of service and
ability, both in civil and military capacities, fully entitle
him. He obtained his commission iu the field so