The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-15 00:00:00

HOP IN7ELLIGENCE.

Very severe floods have occurred in the colony,
and at Windsor much damage has been done. A
despatch from that place, dated June 21, says :
" It rained heavily all last night, and the river
has risen to within a foot of the great flood of 1864.
It is still raining, and the waters continue to rise
slowly. There is no communication by railway,
and the letters posted last evening are detained.
Many persons in imminent peril have been taken off
lofts and the roofs of houses in Wilberforce and
Cornwallis. There are few boats available, and the
six telegraphed for are expected from the govern-
ment. There is a perfect sea all round. Windsor,
Wilberforce, Cornwallis, Richmond, South Creek,
and Pitt Town, bottoms are flooded, and numbers
iu the town have been obliged to leave their dwell-
ings for higher spots. The School of Arts and
other vacant buildings have been thrown open, and
are filled with people. Up to this time the water
has risen 48 feet. Great distress is anticipated."
A. later despatch says :—" The flood still rising and
rain continuing. The waters are now three feet
higher than the flood of June, 1864. The Govern-
ment boats have arrived from Sydney, but, we fear,
too late to be of much service. It is believed that
every one has been brought to the town that was in
danger, but if the waters rise much more there is no
saying who will be safe. The waters are across the
lower part of George-street three feet high. Fami-
lies have been taken off the tops of trees. No mail
communication. The waters are at the top of the
arch of the viaduct over South Creek. It is blowing
a fearful gale. There will be great distress."
The Sydney Horning Herald refers to the floods
in the following terms :—That the heavy rains
of the last few days should have caused floods
is not surprising. Like causes produce like effects.
Our tortuous rivers that drain great areas will al-
ways overflow their banks when the rain-water
drains down into them faster than it can get away
to sea. Whenever we shall construct great and
numerous reservoirs to store the storm waters, and
whenever we cut new and straighter channels to the
ocean for the surplus water, we shall diminish the
risk and damage of floods. But it seems as if these
are works:that belong to a succeeding generation.
Meanwhile, so long as the country remains in a state
of nature, or modified by the removal of the forests,
floods will recur at intervals just as they have done
for centuries, and the alluvial land that has been
formed by a succession of overflows will be always
subject to repetition of the process. But the ac-
counts which appear in our columns when these
river floods are rolling to the sea are apt to give
a very false idea of the necessary dangers and
losses to which agriculture in this colony is
exposed. We read of farms and fences under
water, of families carried off in boats from
their house roofs, of haystacks, pumpkins, pigs,
and poultry roling down the impetuous tor-
rent, of crops spoilt, and sometimes of the sur-
face soil carried away. But for these disasters
there is generally an abundant compensation. The
flood that desolates also enriches. The slime left
by the receding water gives a rich top-dressing to
land that often receives no other manure. The har-
vests of subsequent years make ample amends for
the loss of an occasional crop. Ground that other-
wise would be exhausted by merciless cropping thus
renews its fertility. The best proof of this is to be
found in the money value attached to the alluvial
lands. When purchased iu freehold, a high price
is always given for it ; when rented, from two to
four pounds per acre per annum are readily
offered, and when the drenched tenant leaves
another dry one is always ready to take his
place. The rich and frequent crops account for
this rental. When the land is laid down with
lucerne six cuttings a year are obtainable in good
seasons, and for other crops there is a propor-
tionate return. It is worth while to submit to
an occasional inundation to maintain land at such
a standard of fertility. In seasons of drought,
too, the alluvial lands become doubly remunerative.
When farmers on the high grounds can get no
crops at all, or at best only stunted crops, those on
the alluvial have the produce markets at their
mercy, and coin money ; and, with all the precari-
ousness of our climate, the seasons are generally
impartial enough to give us, on the average, a dry
year for every year of floodi."
From the gold fields we have the following intel-
ligence :—" Few new discoveries have been made at
Emu Creek, and consequently there is a lane portiou

MAIDSTONE, Aug. B.—The heavy rains this week,
when hot sunny weather is so much required, have
taken from us almost our only chance. Where the
burr looks well it cannot turn into hop. There are
a few, comparatively speaking, very good grounds.
The College Gardens, " Mangravit," and one or two
other plantations have hitherto looked likely to
grow something like a crop, but a speedy change of
weather is absolutely necessary to enable them to
do so. Our prospects are very disheartening.
ADDINGTON.—The hops look a trifle better, but
unless we have a speedy change in the weather,
there will be no chance of a growth.

ALLINGTON.—Our prospect of a growth of hops
is worse than ever. The bine is most foul, and the
burr cannot turn into hop.
BAiurlNG.—We cannot expect the plant to re-
cover, with the weather so completely against it.
We give up all hope of a crop this year, so far as
this parish is concerned.
BOXLEY.—With scarcely an exception, the hops
have gone to the bad. One or two gardens show
a little brighter bine, but they are at a standstill. A
very short crop, if any at all.
BEARSTEAD.—We cannot report better than we
have done hitherto. In one or two grounds we
might grow a few hops, should we get better wea-
ther, but our chances at present are very small.
EAST AND WEST FAIRLEIGH.—Ia the better
grounds there is au evident improvement, but the
hops being in burr require much warmer weather.
We find a little mould at places. Some grounds are
so foul that it is a question whether any attempt will
be made to pick up what few there may be.
LOOSE.—Iu several of our cleaner grounds the burr
has come out strongly, but the bine is very foul,
and the weather must very speedily alter for the
better if we are to get any hops.
TILE MALLINGS.—The hops look about as bad as
they possibly can do. The plant is quite black, and
looks as though it had been burnt. Nothing can
save us.
WATERINGBURY AND NETTLESTEAD.—Our hops
do not appear to improve in the slightest degree.
What burr there is remains a fixture, and is not
likely to turn into hop. A very small crop, if any,
this year.
LENHAII.—In the better grounds we may possibly
grow a few hops, but to do so we must have a decided
change in the weather. In the lower grounds
nothing can be done.
YALDING AND HI NTON.--We still go on very
badly. Ia some grounds a slight improvement
may be seen, and we may have a few hops ; but it is
too late now for anything like a crop.
SUNDRIDGE, Aug. 7.—The continued wet weather
is likely to have a prejudicial effect upon the hops,
having every appearance of another 1860, when the
hops came down at about half what they were called.
Should such prove the case, those that are fortunate
enough to escape the blight and grow good hops may
naturally expect very high prices. It appears from
reliable information the foreign crop will be
small, as blight is steadily spreading, and importa-
tions to any extent cannot be expected. The home
growth, in the opinion of many, will be as small as
any ever known. The sto,:k iu hand also is unpre-
cedentedly
BRIGIITLING, Aug. 8.---The plantations are so
very uneven that it is difficult to say anything that
is applicable to any large portion of them. The
vermin has increased in some gardens, whilst others
diminished; still, we keep thinking we are a little
favoured in this district, and hope to grow a few.
WESTERHAM AND TIIE VALE OF HOLIIESDALE,
Aug. B.—Unless there is a speedy change in the
weather, we shall not grow any hops in this dis-
trict. The London market is much excited on ac-
count of the unfavourable prospects and short
stocks; and there is an active demand for 1866'5,
at an advance of fully £,-1 per cwt. from the lowest
point. For old olds (1855's and 1856'5), a shilling
a pound is offered and declined.
EDENBRIDGE AND DISTRICT, Aug. 8 —Some of
our planations are improving, and some are gone
into total blight since our last.
IlAwKaunsT, Aug. B.—Accounts are still very con-
flicting ; some gardens are improved, others the
contrary. Under any circumstances the crop must
be a light one.
WARBLETON, Aug. B.—The hops here ara pro-
gressing favourably, and are nearly clean ; we now
want warm weather to bring them to perfection.
PEAsmlnsti, Aug. B.—The hops are making their
last effort by fresh branches, some of which are clear
of vermin, but the greater part are full of lice.

FEMALE LOVE OF FINERY.

The Countess of Waldegrave was present last
week at a school examination at Wigton, and deli-
vered a short address, in the course of which she
said :—" I wish to speak to the females present, es-
pecially mothers. There is a subject which I believe
a great many will join with me in thinking impor-
tant in these times in which we live, and that is the
subject of female dress in all ranks of life, but
especially among those who attend our schools. I
regret to say that there is a great deal of what may
ba called useless finery among the young girls of
the present day, and I should think that probably
mothers are a little to blame in that particular. I
have observed this passion to be On the increase all
my life ; and as God's mercy has spared me through
eighty years, I think I may speak from experience
on the subject. I must say I think it a great mis-
take on the part of mothers to dress their children
to the utmost extent of their means, instead of in-
ducing them to lay by their pence for what is called
a rainy day, or to collect clothing for winter ; in
place of which they allow their girls to spend all
their little money, and what they can add of their
own as well, on what I should call unnecessary and
useless finery. lam very glad to find that you
educate the children well here, and I am delighted
to see that needlework is made a very particular
point of examination in many of the schools ; be-
cause, in seeking for female servants we all want those
who can be useful in those particulars, as well as in
knitting and darning, for which I have had pleasure
in giving prizes in my own country on various occa-
sions. Now, while children are taught to spend all
the money that they c►n get on little bits of finery,
the first thing a mistress has to teach her young
servant is to dress neatly, and properly, and respect-
ably, and thus correct the great mistake of mothers
who help their children forward in unnecessary out-
side clothing, while very often, I regret to say, the
inside is exceedingly deficient. (Laughter and ap-
plause.) I therefore hope that mothers who have
such opportunities of having their daughters edu-
cated—and you have many compared to those en-
joyed in my part of the country—will earnestly
strive to give them that degree of propriety and
neatness in their dress which is always respectable,
useful, and efficient. 1 trust you will excuse me,
coming such a distance as I do, for making mention
of what many, if they would speak out, really feel
in their hearts. (Applause.) lam often told by
mothers, Well, a a'am, I can't help it. My girl
will go to the second-hand shop and get these bits
of things, where they are cheap. And it is only a
penny flower, and a flower .does not wear out so
won as a ribbon,' (Laughter.) Well, but that is