The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-09 00:00:00

Agricultural Prosueclz.

Last week opened with a close, muggy day, and
thick atmosphere; wind ranging from N. to S.W.
Monday was a cool, cloudy day, without rain. Wind
N.N.E. ; thermometer ranging from 51 to 58 deg. ;
barometer 30 inches. Some harvest work would be
proceeded with to the northward, and the plough
was got to work in all the early districts, the heavy
soils requiring a goodly number to make any pro-
gress, but the light lands would work well. Tues-
day was another thick day, but without rain ; the
wind from N.N.E. ; thermometer 56 deg., and
barometer down to 29.85 inches. Our advices on
that day ran thus—from Norfolk: " Although we
had little rain during the past week, the weather has
been misty, which prevents the grain getting into
condition." From Northumberland it was stated :
" The weather has been damp and foggy since our
last report, and varying from S.W. to N. W. and N.E.
Wednesday was a fair day, misty and sunny alter-
nately, and ploughing was being proceeded with
generally and extensively. Our ad vices Trom the east
coast of Scotland stated : " The weather continues
unfavourable for concluding the corn harvest in
later districts of the country, and much against
potatoes keeping free from disease, of the spread of
which we have numerous reports." On the west
coast the weather had improved. Thursday was a
thick, misty day, with no rain, the wind still from
the N.E. ; thermometer, 60 to 62 deg. ; barometer,
30.05 inches. From Warwickshire on that day our
advices stated : " The wet weather continued up to
Monday morning, a great quantity of rain falling
on Sunday and Sunday night ; it has since been
fine, but dull and muggy, with heavy morning fogs,
the wind N. and N.E. Farmers have taken every
opportunity of gathering the remainder of their corn
harvest, the condition of course being very indiffe-
rent ; they now look anxiously for a continuance of
fine weather, to prepare the land for wheat-sowing,
and it is hoped that the late advance in prices will
amply compensate the farmers for the otherwise
heavy loss they must have sustained." From Suffolk
it is remarked : " We have had a week of close
sultry weather, without wind, and with heavy dews
at night." Friday was a more bracing day, cool,
and on the whole a drier atmosphere, so that farm
work would go on more favourably, and much land
is getting ready for wheat sowing, the farmers
being very anxious to get forward with this work,
which is in a backward state. Our advices from the
East Riding of Yorkshire stated : " The weather
continues damp, and some quantity of beans and
oats still remain unhoused. The harvest in this
district has been much protracted, in consequence of
the untoward weather, and a considerable portion of
the grain is gathered in in a very unsatisfactory
condition, and not fit for thrashing out at present."
From the West Riding : " A good deal of barley in
the fields yet, and the weather has- been very dull
all the week, though not so much rain." By another
Yorkshire correspondent it was stated : " Harvest,
after having been unusually protracted by unfavour-
able weather, is at length drawing to a close; the
crops have sustained considerable injury, and a
large portion has been housed in imperfect con-
dition ; the potato disease also prevails to some
extent ; so that, altogether, our food prospects are
much less favourable than for several years past."
Journeying by railway, a correspondent writes :
" From Peterborough to Syston and Chesterfield,
the harvest, with the exception of beaus, is about
completed; but from Chesterfield into Yorkshire
both oats and barley are in many places still out,
and the weather remains dull and damp." From
Lincolnshire our advices state : " For the last week
we have had nothing but fogs, though scarcely
amounting to rain at any time, and yet corn dries
not. There is much corn out in the north wolds
of this county, and the condition is yet lamentable ;
as in Yorkshire, much corn is in the fields suffering
much. There has never been so much destruction
of grain in my recollection as during this season ;
and damp grain forced into market helps to pull
down the good qualities also." Saturday opened
with an uncertain promise, and some slight drizzling

rain fell for about half an hour ; but the day held
up; wind north-north-east, thermometer 57 deg.,
barometer up to 30.40 in., and giving thus some
high hopes of some finer weather being at hand,
when the farmers will have an opportunity of
bringing up the arrears of every description of work.
A large demand will consequently take place for
seed wheat, of which there is a good choice, despite
all the bad weather.—Mark-Lane Express of yes-
terday.