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

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

After some heavy rain, last week opened with a
fair day, although the atmosphere was thick. Mon-
day was foggy, but no rain fell ; wind, N. to N.E. ;
t herinometer, 45 deg. ; barometer, 30.40 inches.
Ploughing on the light land soil was proceeded with,
and preparations made for plaiting 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 in 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 commanded 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 th,:se 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 rain of late, yet the land
does not dry nicely, and heavy soils can scarcely be
got on to, but the light chalky lands work well, and
ou 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

heir 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 them ; but
the choicest qualities, such as Hudson's Golden
Melon, are 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 bat
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 laud, 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 acco;nplislied. 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 the present "Agri-
cultural Prospects" is the immense arrival of foreign
wheat on the coast, being a portion of the large
fleet so long looked for. Vhen this has been sold
and dispersed throughout the United KingclAn a.
cheering hope way 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,
FRIDAY.- A man, who is thought to be O'Connor, the
loader of the Fonians in their late raid in Kerry, was ar-
rested last night at Athlone, on the arrival of the train from
Galway. He is still in custody,-and exactly answers the
description of O'Connor.

,Three prizes of £5OO, £2OO, and £lOO 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 cotnmittee 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 ignore.l. Sir John Pakington ex-
pressed a few nights ag ) in the House of Commons
his intention of conferring with the Board of Trade
and the Trinity House, in order to ascertain whether
the rules could not be made more simple and effec-
tual, especially with regard to the exhibition of

~.„,......,„„„„„_....,—.... t.b.......
SPORTIVG INTELLIGENCE.—This Day.

VICTORIA CLUB BETTING.—THIS DAY.
The near approach of the Liverpool Grand National
week was indicated to. day by the muster at the clubs,
where speculation was remarkably brisk on the coming
" Derby" of the chase, leading to some most note-
worthy movements in connection with several animals
engaged. Shakespeare was very firm at his quoted
price, a nd was supported to win some thousands,
which had a depressing effect on his stable companion
Dermot Asthore, who at 20 to 1 was friendless.
The feature of the hour was the rush to get on ran,
and an almost similar demonstration in favour of King
Arthur, each of whom were supported down to 100 ;A) 8,
at whirl price Cortolvin was in demand, he being backett
"in one hand" to win £1,500 at that price. Lord Coventry's
lot were in some demand, but Mr. Studd's lot appearcd
under a cloud. Sarney, after all sorts of prices had Lleu,
!aid was clean knocked out to 100 to 1.

LIV.EIt.P3OL Z,TEEPLECII.ASE.
9to 1 agst Shakespeare (taken freely)
100 to 8 agst Fan (tAlton in force)
130 to 8 agst King Arthur (taken and offered)
100 to 8 agst Cortolvin (taken)
100 to 7 agst Lord Coventry's lot (taken)
100 to 6 agst Globule (taken and offered)
100 to 6 agst Tennyson (taken and offered)
20 to 1 agst Columbia (taken)
20 to 1 agst Dermot Asthore (offered)
20 to 1 agst Astrolabe (offered)
25 to 1 agst Little Frank (offered--take 33 to 1)
33 to 1 agst The Doctor (taken)
33 to 1 agst The Plover (taken)
33 to 1 agst Clansman (taken)
33 to 1 agst Thomastowu (offered—take 40 to 1)
33 to 1 agst Little Wideawake (offered)
33 to 1 agst Silver Star (offered)
100 to 1 agst Surney (taken and offered)
10 to I agst Mr. Studd's lot (offered)

NOTICE.—CHINGE OF ADDRESS.—JOHN STIRK, late Of
Beaufort Buildings, Strand, returns his best thanks for the
patronage he has received during the past year, and begs
to inform his friends that he has removed to 25, Wel-
lington-street, Strand, London, where commissions will be
executed to any amount. Price Lists as usual.

T. and G. LEE, of the Wheatsbenf, Worship-street,
Shoreditch ; at Three King-court, Lombard-street; and
at Ono Swan-yard, Bishopsgate-street.

Two MONSTRE SWEEPS OVER THE LIVERPOOL GRAND
NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, drawn Monday, March 4th,
1867. 10,000 members at la each, and 3,000 members at
2s. 6d. each. Address, HARItY WILSON, Turf Herald Office,
Hull. Commissions executed on all races.

W. llormws and Jonx AMBROSE (member of Tattersall's,
Victoria, and other Clubs) Execute Commissions on all
races throughout the year. Address-33, OXBNDEN-
STREET, HAYMARKET.

Mr. GROROB WEBB, Commission Agent, 125, Queen's-
crescent, llaverstock-hill. Commissions executed from
10s. upwards. Post-office Orders to be made payable at
the llaverstock-hill Branch. Price Lists sent on receipt of
a stamped envelope. Mr. W. has Lists posted daily at the
Arches, near Farringdou-street, and in George-yard ; also
through his Agents, Mr. F. Butler, near Meam's Brewery ;
and at Mr. Roberts', Tobacconist, 19, Seymour-street,
Eustou-square. Evenings after 7 at Mr. C. Durham's,
Freemasons' Arms, Long-acre, near Drury-lane ; and at
Mr. Roberts' as above.

NOTES

FROM

TRAINING QUARTERS.

(THIS DAY.)