The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-02 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROEPIIC ES.

After some heavy rain, last week opened with a
fair day, although the atmosphere was thick. Mon-
day was foggy, but no rain felr ; wind, N. to N.E. ;
t hermoineter, 45 deg. ; barometer, 30.40 inches.
Ploughing on the light laud soil was proceeded with,
and preparations made for planting beans, which
will soon go on extensively, weather permitting. The
sorts most preferred are Harrow Ticks, some growers
liking the Mazagans, which are grown chiefly in
Essex, and to a fair extent in Kent, while other
counties prefer a heavier quality. The growth of
the small Pigeon or Heligoland has fallen off, and
these have been comparatively scarce during the past
season. The commencement of importing Egyptians
again has caused these to recede in value a few
shillings per quarter, otherwise good rates would
have been maintained. There is a nice choice now
of seed samples, and prices are moderate, so
that farmers who have to purchase will be some-
what favoured both iu price and quality. As
regards peas, the best sorts of hog qualities
have sold more readily than white boiled de-
scriptions, maples particularly, and these are rather
scarce and dear, but will most probably pay best in
another
.season, from the stocks being so closely
worked up. A larger breadth of blues was grown
last year than usual, running too much on the small
qualities, and these have not commandcd good rates;
whilst the large imperial blues have realised com-
paratively high prices, from the northern demand
taking up so many, and they are still saleable for
Scotland at good figures ; and these we strongly
recommend. Tuesday was a thick foggy day, but
with at times a little sun ; wind E. to S.E., ther-
mometer 48 deg., barometer 30.40 inches. Although
there has not been much r .ia o: late, yet the laud
does not dry nicely, and heavy soils can scarcely be
got on to, but the light chalky lands work well, and
on these farmers are getting on better, and they only
await drying winds to proceed elsewhere. The wheat
trade looks pretty healthy where it has escaped the
slugs, but occasionally there are complaints on wet
and retentive lands. Wednesday was a nice and
cheering day for the country, occasionally sunny.
Wind south-west to west ; thermometer, 50 deg.,
barometer, 30.40 inches. Remarkably fine weather
this for the month of February, which is occasion-
ally so wintry and wet. The farmers, busily occu-
pied everywhere, are making steady progress with
their field work under more favourable circumstances
than of late. Barley samples for seed are now com-
manding attention. Some farmers are about to sow
the discoloured parcels, as these are pretty sound,
scarcely a grown sample to be found in thorn ; but
the choicest qualities, such as Hudson's Golden
Melon, aro yet sought after by other growers, and
these will probably turn out the best and most re-
munerating by another season. A prime article
is worth a good price, and there has been no fault
found in the rates obtained for this throughout
the season. The deliveries have materially
fallen off, and all suitable qualities will realise
full prices during the seed time ; and afterwards
not much of any sort will be left, so that the
maltsters who continue at work must pay a
good price to secure a little of prime quality
to finish off with. Thursday was a thick but
favourable day, and work would proceed steadily.
From Warwickshire our advices stated The
weather during the week has been mostly fine and
mild, with occasional showers, and farmers are now
engaged upon the land, although this is at present in
a very unfit state for working." Friday morning
was doubtful, some slight rain having fallen ; but it
held up afterwards, and but little more fell during
the remainder of the day. Saturday was a remark-
ably fine day, sunny and dry ; and a good deal of
field-work would be accomplished. The past week,
on the whole, has been the finest of the season ; and
if favourable weather continue farmers may soon
bring up the arrears of their work, and put matters
in good order. A drawback to thepresenotf
foreign
"Agri-
cultural Prospects" is the immense arrival
wheat on the coast, being a portion of the large
fleet so long looked for. When this has been sold
and dispersed throughout the United Kingdom a
cheering hope may spring up again. Meantime the
farmer will not push his remnant and small stock to
market in the face of this superabundance of foreign
produce.—Mark Lane Express.

IMPORTANT ARREST IN IRELAND.—DUBLIN,
FRIDAL— A man, who is thought to be O'Connor, the
leader of the Fenians in their late raid in Kerry, was ar-
rested last night at Athlone, on the arrival of the train from
Galway. 110 is still in custody, and exactly answers tho
description of O'Connor.

:.,Three prizes of £5OO, £2OO, and £1()0 respec-
tively, have been offered by the association of col-
liery proprietors of South Lancashire and Cheshire
to the inventors of the best machines for coal
cutting. The machines are to be supplied not later
than November 1, when they will be practically
tested in the collieries before a committee appointed
for the purpose.

Correct steering and sailing rules are of the first
importance to commercial nations. Numerous
wrecks have recently occurred, which lead to the
supposition that the rules are defective, or that they
are neglected or ignored. Sir John Pakington ex-
pressed a few .nights ago in the House of Commons
his intention c.tf conferring with the Board of Trade
and the Trinity House, iu order to ascertain whether
the rules could. not be made more simple and effec-
tual, especially with regard to the exhibition of
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