The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-25 00:00:00

PROSPECTS OF THE _HARVEST.

The accounts received from different parts of the
country of the progress of the harvest are full of interest.
They shew of • course some variations, owing to
the quality of the soil and climate in particular
districts, and owing, too, in some degree, to the
view which the particular narrator is disposed to
take. The general effect appears to confirm the anticipa-
tions that were formed earlier in the season. The harvest
on the whole is somewhat below the average, though dry,
cool weather for the last week has been of
immense service to the country. The Mark Lane
Express says that with another fortnight like the past the
great crisis of our harvest season will have safely con-
eluded. The change to fine weather has stopped the
advance on wheat throughout the country, and the condi-
tion of the new wheat which has made its appear-
ance in the markets is better than was generally
hoped for, though the quality is very inferior to that of
last year, and the yield is below the average. The
variety of the samples has been great. It must be remem-
bered that the extraordinary crop of last year probably
induces our agriculturists to think more unfavourably of
the crops of 1869 than they would have done if 1868 had
not disturbed their ordinary calculations. There is a very
marked difference in the estimate of the acreage. Some
practical agriculturists are said to estimate it as
much less than it was last year, while Mr. James
Sanderson calculates that 10 per cent. more land than
the average breadth is this year sown with wheat. Mr.
Mechi, of Tiptree Hall, strongly advocates his favourite
doctrine of thin sowing, and advises wheat growers to try
half an acre in each field with varying quantities.
He gives a pretty favourable account of his
own harvest, but a Yorkshire farmer sends
him a most depressing statement. From other
parts of Yorkshire, however, the accounts are pretty
fair, and there is great rejoicing over the improve-
ment of the weather. In Lincolnshire the crops are said
to be variable, as indeed they aro in most parts, but har-
vest work is now becoming very general. In some cases
the harvest is being got in, but there are com-
plaints in some places of blight in the wheat.
Throughout the country the barley crop is un-
favourably spoken of, though, as barley usually likes
wet weather, it is difficult to see what it has had to com-
plain of this season. Barley is likely, it is said, to prove
our worst crop. Peas and potatoes are not fully up to the
average; but beans are equal to it, and turnips, like other
root crops, are far above it. The mangold crop is, accord.
ing to some accounts, likely to yield "an enormous acre-
age weight," while others report it to be "a regular failure."
The question of harvesting cropsindepcndently of weather
is naturally being actively discussed by the agriculturists
who have suffered from the uncertainty of the season.
Mt. Neilson, vho holds a farm of 300 acres under Lord
Derby near Liverpool, has found the means of placing
corn in ricks in such a manner that a current of dry or
heated air can be forced through it, and the corn, however
wet, thoroughly cured. He is indebted for the idea to
Mr. Gossage, of Widnes, and he has derived the
greatest benefit from it. During the past week,
too, a new system of harvest-carting by steam
has been tried on all the, farms of Messrs. Howard,
of Bedford, by which a steam-ploughing engine
is used for drawing waggon-trains of corn. By means of
such ingenious applications of mechanical power we may
hope that our enterprising agriculturists will soon
become more independent than they now are of the
vagaries of our climate.

Notice., were posted on the railway bridge at
Carfrons, between Athlone and Moate, on Friday, threaten-
ing the fate of Captain Tarleton upon any person who should
cut the meadows let by Mr. Lawder, of Gallon.
The present Liverpool summer assizes have been
unusually prolific of breach of promise cases. A young
lady on Monday received damages of £lOO from a widower in
an action of this sett.

The Norwich Election Commissioners resumed
their sittings on Tuesday. It is said that the proceedings
will last two months. The source from which the money
Tent in bribery came Las been ascertained.

The man Shanley, whose arrest on a charge of
wife murder, in Oldham-road, Mascbester, was announced
on Monday, has been sent for trial ; but the magistrate took
a lenient view of his crime, committing him for man-
slaughter instead of for murder.

The Derry Commission resumed its sitting on Mon-
day. Several Liberals were examined, and they were of
opinion that tho Derry celebration should bo suppressed, the
city police abolished, and constabulary appointed. The
Conservatives have withdrawn from the inquiry. Mr. John
Rea has applied to the Mayor for summonses against John
Ilimpton for slandering five magistrates before the Commis-
sioners, and against the proprietor of 013 Derry Journal for
publishing the slander. A decision upon the application
will be given on Thursday.

THE FATAL COLLISION AT NEW CROSS.—Yes-
terday, Mr Carter resumed, at the King's Head
Tavern, Upper Kennington-lane, the inquiry respecting
the death of Mr. Henry Way, aged 27 years, who it was
alleged lost his life in consequence of injuries which he re-
ceived during a collision at the New-cross Station of the
London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, on June 23.
The case is regarded with great interest by the medical
world, as well as by the general public, as no fewer than
seven doctors have been summoned to give evidence—some
to prove that he died from inflammation of the lungs from
natural causes, and some to depose that he expired from
the effects of the injuries he received during the accident.
The railway company allege that deceased was not seen in
the train at the time of the accident, and that even if he
was in it he died from the effects of natural causes, and
not from injuries. After a lengthened inquiry, the jury
expressed their opinion that deceased's death was quite
independent of the accident.
A SELF-SUPPORTING GAOL.—The annual report
of Mr. James Caldwell, the governor of the gaol at Dune-
din, Now Zealand, dated the 14th of April last, states that
the value of the labour of the prisoners during the year
ended the 31st of Marcia last more than covered the entire
expenditure of the establishment, without taking into con-
sideration the labour of such prisoners as wore engaged in
prison employmon, such us washing, cooking, cleaning,
&c., and various other works connected with the gaol. The
prison contained, when the report was printed 1,789 in-
mates, of whom 43 were debtors and six lunatics. During
tho year there wore received 595 male and 147 female pr -
Boners. The expenditure for the year on account of the
gaol was £7'385 2s, Bd., and the value of the prisoner's
labour was £8,778 3s. 7d., showing an excess of £1,309 Os,
11d. over the expenditure. A considerable number of
the male prisoners are employed in dredging the harbour,
reclaiming swamps, and even in sweeping the streets of
tbe town, &c. The ration scale shows that the following
allowances per day (in ounces) aro given to male and
female prisoners at hard labour :—Maize or oaten meal, 8
and 6 ; bread, 20 and 12 ; meat, 16 and 8 ; potatoes, 16
ancl 12; sugar, 19z, 00; §orip and pat, oz, oult.