The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-21 00:00:00

Ag;:icultural Prospects.

The week opened with a fine, hot day, very breezy
in the afternoon. Monday was also fine, but rather
cooler ; wind W. to S.W., thermometer 58 degs.,
barometer 30.10 in. to 30.05. Our advices received
on that day from Essex stated :—" One or two
farmers have commenced mowing grass, but it will
not be general in this district for a week. The
crop will probably be good, but not so abundant as
was expected before the May frosts had checked the
growth. Fine weather for corn, which is improving
rapidly." Tuesday was a cool day, and cloudy,with
some slight showers in the afternoon, while the night
was cold and threatening; wind varying from W. to
S.W., thermometer 58 degrees, barometer 29.65
inches. Our advices from Suffolk on that day ran :
" Rain wanted in this district. The aspect of our
growing crops generally not good." From the West
Riding of Yorkshire the advices were :—" We have
had a good deal of rain during the last few days,
but the fanners say there has not been too much
yet." Another account says :--" Since Friday we
have had showers, with a steady rain through last
night, and the appearance of more this afternoon,
so that Yorkshire must be well moistened, and
crops progress fast now" From Norfolk ;—" We
have had during the past week fine forcing weather,
and to-day a steady rain, which is much required
for the spring-sown crops." From Northumberland
it was remarked :—" Sinde our last, we have had
fine growing weather, the wind varying from the
south-east to the south-west." From the interior of
Suffolk the accounts stated :—" The crops have
made considerable progress during the past 14 days,
and the early white varieties of wheat arenow burst-
ing into ear. IVe do not hear a good report of the
wheat crop; the plant has run up weakly, with the
excessive heat, and it promises only a small ear.
With the present aspect of the grow:ng crops,
empty stackyards, and small foreign supplies, the
present values of wheat are much below what they
should be." The morning on Wednesday was fine,
but the afternoon wet. Our advices from the west
corst of Scotland went thus :—" The weather has
been 'fine with occasional fruitful showers. On
Thursday there were some showers, varied by gleam
of the sun. Haymaking was going on in early dis-
tricts, the crop variable, good hero and there on
most pastures, but light on other soils. Our advices
from Warwickshire stated : "We have now had a
fortnight of splendid growing weather, and the crops
throughout the country, as well as vegetation gene-
rally, show a remarkable improvement." From the
neighbourhood of Newbury it was stated :—" Hay-
making has commenced in this district. The crops
generally are rather light. Wheat looks very mid-
dling ; berley and oats well." From the neighbour-
hood of Windsor, on the same day, it was stated :
_cc The late rains have proved very bene-
ficial to the Lent corn. The cutting of clover
and grass will be general next week, should
the weather clear up." From Suffolk, near
the coast :—" The weather is mild and genial,
and our crops are fairly progressing. Wheat does
not grow in favour, but spring corn, save some of
the barleys, is decidedly promising." Friday proved
showery at times, with the barometer slightly fall-
ing. Our advices from Devonshire on that day
stated : " Haymaking is generally over in this dis-
trict; one small field was ricked close to Exeter, in
May. Wheat is getting into ear, and is not much, +
if any, later than last year. The crop promises to
be fair, but not great. Some early-sown barley
looks very well ; but, generally speaking, oats and
barley are later relatively this year than wheat."
From the West Riding of Yorkshire our advices
state :—" We have bad showers during almost every
day this week, and our farmers speak well of their
growing crops, and say they have very much im-
proved within the last fortnight." From Lincoln-
shire our advices were :—" At last we have had a
(rood fall of rain, which will do an immense amount
of good. On dry thin soils both barley and wheat
were at a standstill—in fact had begun to suffer,
and it is doubtful if there are not several cases past
recovery. Wheat does not seem brisk, which I
think is surprising, as. not for years and years has
the stock of wheat been so low as it is this season ;
in fact, as I said at harvest, this country had a
very miserable crop of wheat. Should the weather
prove genial now, I think there is a good prospect."
Saturday was a fine breezy day, most suitable for
haymaking, and a good deal of the crop, no doubt,
would be secured in fair condition. 'Weather per-
mitting, during next week an immense quantity of
grass w7ll be cut down. Agricultural prospects,
on the whole, are for the moment more favourable,
wheat having somewhat increased in value, while
the farmers are on the qua vie for war plus, and a
movement in the trade appears to be close at hand,
so that such agriculturists as hold any stocks will
no doubt have an opportunity of reaping more or
less benefit by the troubles of the continent.—
Mark-lane Express.