The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-21 00:00:00

Agricultural Prospects.

The week opened with some very heavy rain
early in the morning, and later it was wet, but
cleared up in the afternoon ; wind very variable
and night threatening. On Monday some heavy
rain had fallen early ; the day proved fine ; wind
N.N.E., thermometer 62 degrees, barometer 29.90
inches. Tuesday was wet till noon, when it held
up, but the close, muggy atmosphere made it a very
bad harvest day. Our advices on that day were,
from the West Riding of Yorkshire —" The weather
since last week has been cloudy, with temperature
low, and showery more or less. The cutting of
oats has commenced ; but the wheat and barley,
being so much twisted and laid, only ripen slowly.
A few of the lighter fields of wheat will be begun
about the end of the week. Turnips and potatoes
are much improved by the late rains, especially the
former, which now look healthy and promise a crop."
From the East Riding it was stated—" The
weather has been again unsettled during the week,
more or less rain having fallen daily. Harvest has
partially commenced in this neighbourhood, so that
a change for the better is much tolbe desired, suffi-
cient rain having already fallen to cause some
anxiety for the crops on the ground." From Suffolk
it was remarked—" The weather remains wet and
unsettled, and but slight progress can at present
be made with harvest work." From Norfolk our
advices stated—" The weather having been very
unsettled of late, the corn crops have been partially
laid, and harvest prospects are not so favourable
as they were a fortnight ago. Wheat ripens slowly.
Barley is the best crop of the season. Beans are
a splendid crop. Oats and peas are very good."
From Leicestershire—" Harvest operations around
here have been checked by the unfavourable
weather. Both the wheat and barley crops
are looking well. The reports of oats vary ;
mangel-wurzel and turnips promise well. Wed-
nesday was a dry but cloudy day ; being
breezy, harvest work would proceed. From the
west coast of Scotland it was stated—" The weather
continued unsettled until yesterday, since when it
has improved." From Norfolk our advices were
rather mere cheering :—" The changeable and cold
weather of late has much retarded harvest, although
up to the present the growing crops have not re-
ceived any injury ; many fields have been cut and a
few carted. Wheat and barley have stood the rain
well, and but little is lodged. Our prospects are
for a full crop of wheat and a large one of barley in
this immediate district." From Nottinghamshire
the same day it was observed :—" In this neighbour-
hood the cropsthe have not matured much during the
past weather having been changeable, and
week,
there has been a good f all of rain.erea
fortnightllarvest agopros -;
pects are not so good as they were
but no positive damage been r
adiorin
woulde , an d
soon
h
genial sunshine a
larcre
breadth yeadteht
of
be cut. Mangel wurzel and turnips are looking ex-
ceedingly well." From Oxfordshire the advices
and consequently only a limited progress has been
stated :—" The weather has been broken this week,
•
threaten-
ing and dull, and rain having fallen from noon to
made with the harvest." Thursday was 3
p.m. all work was suspended. Our advices from
Buckinghamshire state :—" I fear a great deal of
wheat will be carted too quickly ; the farmers will
get impatient. Little wheat has yet been got into
stack." From Suffolk it was observed :—" Since
our last report the weather has continued very un-
settled, and we have had rain every day, including
heavy storms of hail and thunder on Friday last.
Harvest is, however, rapidly progressing, and a large
portion of our wheat is cut, of which very little is
carted. The reports are more encouraging, and
unless injured by further exposure, the quality will
be good. Barley has hitherto been improved by
the rain, but the continued unsettled weather, with
a higher temperature, has affected a small quan-
tity already cut. Should it now clear up,
the quality will be generally good." From the
same county, near the coast, our advices remarked :
" The weather at present is not perfectly settled,
and it tends to protract harvest. The wheat crop is

said to cut up lighter than expected." Friday was
a breezy and unfavourable day for harvest work.
Our advices from Devonshire stated : " The prin-
cipal part of the early sown wheat has been secured
in this district—if not in extra fine condition, still
saved, and will be all right after being in stack for
a time. I think we have had less rain in this dis-
trict than most other parts of the kingdom." From
Lincolnshire : " Harvest is general in this district,
but the weather is by no means propitious. No
carting of corn as yet. Barley is not likely to be
so good in quality as was expected, and wheat is
more or less mildewed generally." From the East
Riding of Yorkshire our advices were : " The
weather has been very unsettled during the week,
interfering much with harvest operations, which had
just commenced in this neighbourhood. The in-
jury done by the heavy rains has been somewhat
mitigated by.the cold winds which have generally
followed." Saturday was the finest day experienced
for a long time. Quite an autumnal morning gave
hopes of a favourable change. Much field work
would be accomplished, and a great amount of
grain would be carted in all the early counties ; a
fortnight of such weather would do wonders for the
country, and give the farmers more spirits than they
have latterly possessed, from the gloomy state of
the weather.—Mark,-lane Express.