The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-05 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOE

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MARCH.
The present is, unquestionably, a most important
period of the year for agriculture, more particularly
as relates to 'ploughing the land for the reception or
Lent corn. As this operation is chiefly influenced by
the state of the atmosphere, a few remarks respecting
that experienced this month may, not be out of place.
its early part, although so closely following the" filly-
dyke" season, was seasonably fine; but, from the Sth
until the 20th, heavy showers fell almost daily in
every part of England, we might say of the king-
dom. These rains so completely saturated the soil,
especially in the lowlands—many of which were par-
tially inundated during several days—as to put a
stop, for a time, to the progress of the plough. Not-
withstanding, however, these visitations, the agricul-
turists were not idle; the various other matters con-
nected with farm labours having engrossed much of

their attention.
From the latter period above referred to, until the
month's conclusion, the temperature was dry, and
consequently seasonab'e ; hence very great progress
was made in the fields. With the exception, there-
fore, of the drawback above alluded to, there is every
reason to congratulate our readers upon the time just
elapsed. As to the position in which farm labours
now are, we have to intimate that it is quite as satis-
factory as could be desired ; in fact, both ploughing
and sowing—which are fully expected to be concluded
within the time usually allotted to them—are suffi-
ciently forward. From time immemorial, the pre-
sence of March dust has been considered an omen

of a good future harvest ; of that commodity there
has been a fair share. Let us hope that the prognos-
tications of ancient may hold good in modern years.
A large portion of wheat, barley, and oats, including
beans and peas, has now been sown, with the land, for
the most part, in good working condition.
It affords us very great pleasure in being able to
state that the contents of the letters received from our
numerous correspondents residing in the great agri-
caltural districts are such as to enable us to convey
to our readers a most flattering statement of the win-
ter wheats. This is a subject worthy of the most at-
tentive consideration at this moment, for we need
scarcely say, that upon the present condition of the
growing crops depends, in some measure, the future
prospects of the agricultural body, increasing or les-
sening as it does the demand for the stocks of grain
on hand, and thus having a tendency to influence
prices. Some few of our statements complain of the
ravages committed by the slug ; but, considering
that the past winter has been one of comparative mild-
ness, the losses thus experienced form but a small,
very small, item for consideration. It is to be ob-
served that we have had occasion to make remarks to
the same effect as these during the last three or four
years. May not this effect have been produced by
the progress agricultural chemistry is making through -
out the length and breadth of the land ?
We are but little admirers of theory, but it
occurs to us that, in years yet to come, science
will be the general basis on which agriculture
will be conducted. To use a technical expression, so
regular have the wheats appeared that the land upon
which they are growing has almost the appearance of
a bowling-green ; while premature exuberance has
been seldom complained of.
The corn trade of the month has not exhibited that
buoyancy of character which many persons were led
to anticipate. It is true that in its early part the
value of most grain was supported, with a steady
demand for the best descriptions ; but as it pro-
ceeded, the demand became extremely heavy, at a
decline of from ls. to 3s. per quarter in the rates of
wheat, while barley has retrograded to the same
extent. In all other corn no material variation has
been noticed, though the trade has ruled inactive. As
might be expected, this state of demand has some-
what perplexed the speculators in foreign corn, and
prevented orders to any extent being transmitted
to the various grain shipping ports up the Baltic
and elsewhere. That there is very little prospect
of any immediate improvement taking place in
the value of wheat is obvious ; but when we consider
that the produce of last year's crops was barely an
average, and that the stocks of that of home growth
are far from large for the season, we are led to con-
clude—more especially as the supply of foreign, both
free and in bond, is limited—that higher rates will be
obtained during the months of July and August.
From Scotland we learn that great progress has
been made in out-door farm labour=, the whole of
which are represented as being sufficiently forward.
The wheats are looking remarkably strong and
healthy, but the supply of wheat and barley in the
hands of the farmers is acknowledged to be small.
The shipments of corn to England from the various
Irish ports have been small, while the different
markets have been scantily supplied : prices, however,
have undergone no change worthy of notice. Most
of the winter crops have been already sown under
avourable auspices.—Farmer's Magazine.

WAVERLEY BALL.—We understand that the Wa-
verley Ball Committee have paid over to the Scott Monu-
ment New Subscription Fund the sum of 300 guineas, being
the free proceeds of that brilliant assembly. We learn that
there exists a strong desire among the mercantile and mid•
dle classes to have another ball for the same object, at a little
lower price of admission. We doubt not, that if carried into
effect under the patronage of the Auxiliary Committee,
it would be as numerously attended as that of last Tues-
day, and might add at least another 1001. to the funds.—
Edinburgh Advertiser.
The Aberdeen Steam Navigation Company's steam
ship, City of Aberdeen, arrived on Tuesday forenoon, with
213 fat cattle, and a large cargo of general goods ; and the
same night the Duke of Welling arrived. with 274 cattle, the
largest number ever shipped by one vessel ; the latter princi-
pally for Barnet fair. 'I he whole arrived in fine order, and
walked!ashore at the Company's new premises. at 257,Wapping.

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SERIOUS Loss OF SllEEP.—Within the last few days
the extraordinary number of forty-nine sheep have been lost
by Mr. Fountain, of Leake, under the following circum-
stances :—The flock was a short time since, and had been for.
some weeks, kept on Swede turnips, and on being removed,
was driven for a few miles, and placed on a piece of meadow
land. The next morning, Many of the sheep were perceived
to be afflicted with symptoms of lethargy, and appeared to
be otherwise quite out of condition; and within forty eight
hours of their being placed on the meadow land, it was found
necessary to slaughter from fifteen to twenty ; since then they
have continued dying, and on Friday night the number lost
amounted, as above stated, to forty-nine. The animals, it
seems, were afflicted with inflammation of the kidneys, sup
posed to have been produced by the distance they were
driven, and the sudden change of keep. The greater portion
of the carcases have been sent to the London epicures, and
others sold to a butcher in this immediate neighbourhood
and have probably graced the tables of the bon virants of
Boston—though it is but fair to state that not a :ilL;le car-
case has been purchased by any butcher of the town.—
Boston Herald.

SUICIDE.—An inquest was held yesterday at the
Welch Harp, Essex-street, Whitefriars, before Mr. Payne,
the Coroner, on view of the body of Louisa Matilda Gilligan,
aged seventeen, a professor of music and dancing. Several
witnesses were examined, but the substance of the evidence
may be briefly stated. The deceased was the daughter of a
coachmaker, residing at No. 10, Denmark-street, Soho, and
obtained her living by teaching music and dancing to some
young persons of both sexes, whom she met at Norris's Coffee-
house, Little Dean-street. About a year ago she became ac-
quainted with a young man of the name of Webster, who
frequented the same coffee-house. At her request he con-
ducted her public balls, and very soon he paid her so much
attention that their friends believed they would be married.
The intimacy continued until about two months ago, when she
gave a dress ball at some rooms in Oxford-street. 'Webster, in
his evidence before the Coroner, said that his love for her ceased
at that ball ; for though he was there in characteristic costume,
she chose a young gentleman, a stranger to him, and in un-
dress, as her partner, in the first set of quadrilles, and during
the evening danced with a Mr. Capp, a mere acquaint-
ance. After that he had some words with her, and the
match was broken off. She was still in the habit of going to
the coffee-house every Sunday evening to meet her pupils,
and take part in what the witness called a "temperance con-
versazione ;" but after the discontinuance of her meeting
with Webster, she was pensive and thoughtful. She often
threatened to destroy herself, saying that her acquaintances
had scandalised her; and on the night of Sunday, the 25th
of February, she told Miss Appleby, one of her pupils, that
she would have a watery grave that night. A young man,
named Capp, walked home with her, but she immediately
went out again, and going direct to Waterloo-bridge, threw
herself into the water. The body was not found until Mon-
day last, when a waterman discovered it floating at Temple-
stairs. The following lines, supposed to be written in allu-
sion to -her unfortunate quarrel with Webster, were found in
her box :

"Fain, fain would I my grief impart,
Yet dare not, for your anger ;
But secret love will break my heart,
If I conceal it longer."
The witnesses said they thought that deceased's mind was
affected, and the jury returned a verdict of " Temporary in.
sanity." _ .

THE ANCIENT ROMAN WALL.—Yesterday, in the
course of excavations which are making adjoining Sir J.
Cass's charity, to the east of the church of St. Botolph, Ald-
gate, the workmen came on the foundation of the ancient
Roman wall, at a depth from the surface of fifteen feet. It
was of the usual strength and width. The portion discovered
was built upon a solid brick foundation, strongly cemented
together. The bricks were in a.condition as perfect as when
they were originally laid down, and though smaller, much
heavier than the hicks row in use. A short time ago ano-
ther part of the same wall was discovered at a similar depth
in Duke-street, Houndsditch, from which it appears that it
passes across the lower end of Houndsditch, under the burial-
ground,of the church of St. Botolph. A quantity of fused
metal, which is supposed to have been melted in the fire of
London, was di§covered among the earth. There was a depth
of " made" earth, of from fifteen to twenty feet, which was
of a fine loamy quality. It is supposed that when the
Tower ditch was excavated, a large quantity of the soil was
brought there. The same sort of soil is found in many other
parts adjoining London-wall, leading to the site where Win-
chester House formerly stood The ground is being dug for
a sewer, and there is a depth of about twenty feet of made
earth.

THE CONVICT LAWEENCE.—The warrant for the
execution of John Lawrence, for the murder of Henry Solo-
mon, was received by the governor of Horsham gaol on
Tuesday morning; and the execution is to take place, as we
announced last week, on Saturday next. We understand
that his demeanour is -altogether suitable to his situation;
and we hear that his fortitude is very great, and the surgeon
of the gaol has expressed his astonishment at the firm state
of his health. He shows nothing of that feverish excitement
which might be expected in his situatior, but is cool and col-
lected as an ordinary person.—Brighton Gazette.

Dr. Pauli, the eminent Bavarian engineer, who
was recently commissioned by the King of Bavaria to pro-
ceed to this country to inspect the atmospheric railroad be •
tween Kingstown and Dalkey, has returned to Munich, and
reported highly favourably on the subject.