The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-31 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.

The weather has been of the most favourable
character throughout the whole of the week ; some
days bright and sunny with sharp white frosts at
night, and a very high barometer, the wind blowing,
fresh from the north-east.
Field work has proceeded rapidly, and the
ploughs are busily occupied in preparing the land
for spring tillage. Wheat sowing has still gone
on, as farmers are most anxious to have as much of
Ibis grain as possibP' for another season, in the an-'
ticipation of good prices.
There have been moderate deliveries, and no
anxiety on the part of either buyers or sellers to
press business until the Anglo American dispute
be settled in one way or other. Some further
delay will yet take place, the voyage across the
Atlantic not being made so quickly at this season
of the year. It may indeed be the close of next
week before the answer comes to hand. There is
much doubt on many minds whether the deliveries
can be kept up on a large scale, and on this de-
pends a good deal the future prices, even with a
continuance of peace. Even in that event the im-
ports will fall off suddenly from America, and we
have now only to depend on ships at sea with this
grain, which are supposed to be large. Contrary
winds this week have kept them out, and the
imports in consequence have fallen off.
The appearance of the plant could not be better;
that sown early is strong, and of a healthy dark
green, giving every promise of a large crop, as far as
opinion can be yet formed. The seed has been ex-
cellent, and the land in the finest order possible for
its reception. That sown later is now well up,
strong, -and even, also giving a goad promise ;
and every farmer seems satisfied with his prospects
of a good year. Some quantity of spring sorts will
be planted, and this will go in steadily as the
weather permits, and when the land is ready.
There will not this season be so much land left for
E spring corn as usual, but for barley a reserve will be
made, in preference to any other article, from the
belief that this is the next to wheat in importance.
Oats are grown now so extensively in Sweden. and
well kept up in Russia, they can always be ob-
tained in abundance, and cheaper than they can
be grown. Last harvest more oats than usual were
produced in England, and although the quality was
prime, prices have not been so satisfactory as those
of either wheat or barley. The deliveries aro now
falling off, and there is no encouragement to send
them to the metropolis, whilst the imports are so
large as at present.
There have been increased deliveries of barley,
and yet prime malting qualities have met an in-
creased demand, at somewhat improved rates, the
maltsters appearing anxious to secure the finest
descriptions to as large an extent as possible.
Most probably a sudden cessation may 'take place
in the early part of the year, from the large de-
liveries being made sooner than usual.
The consumption is now extensively going on
with turnips and mangold wurzel, as well as of
hay, provender of all sorts being in great request
from the want of grass, which has been nipped
and shortened by occasional sharp night frosts.
Linseed cakes continue to command a good price,
and if American should be stopped, English will
have a run, and be further enhanced in value.
The stocks of this article are not large of either
foreign or English, and linseed being very dear,
unless supplies increase, it may yet run up in
price. Farmers will do well to make early pur-
chases in case of need.-21farklane Express.

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SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.—CIosed to the
public from Monday, Dec. 16, to Monday, Dec. 23, inclu-
sive, in consequence of the death of his late Royal Highness
the Prince Consort. Free days :—Tuesday, 24th, 1,872;
Thursday, 26th, 9,694; Friday, 27th, 3,528; Saturday, 28th,
3,707—t0ta1, 18,801. From the Opening of the Museum,
2,4C6,931. Museum of Patents.—Number of visitors for
the week ending Dec. 28, 7,434 ; total number since the open-
ing of the Museum, free daily (May 12, 1858), 455,182.
THE PRINCE OF WATERLOO.—In a recent meet•
ing of the Belgian House of Representatives, one of the
subjects which came under discussion was the grant to the
Duke of Wellington in 1815, as Prince of Waterloo, which
was understood to have been given to his grace and to his
direct descendants, and some information was asked fur as
to how things now stood, in consequence of the death of the
duke. In reply, it was stated by M. Frere-Orban that his
attention had been drawn to the subject by observations
which had been made in the newspapers some years ago,
and he had in consequence made inquiries, from which he
had learned that the direct line of the Duke of Wellington
was not extinct, for although the rights claimed by his eon
ware contested, because, at the time of his birth, the system
of registration was imperfect or irregular, yet it had subse-
quently been proved by other means, and particularly by
an inscription in a family Bible, that the present Duke
was the legitimate offspring of the first Prince of Water-
loo, and as such was entitled to be recognised as one of the
direct lineal descendants who were included iu tho original
grant,