The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-05 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR

NOVEMBER.
In commenting upon those matters relative to the pro-
duce and cultivation of the soil, one great duty we have

to perform this month is that of calmly considering the
various communications which continue to reach us from

nearly every part of the kingdom relative to the
yield of the present year's grain crops, and the extent
of the failure in the supply of that most valuable
edible—the potato. The absence of statistical data
of course renders it a matter of impossibility for us
to determine what may be the actual falling off, yet

we may observe that many statements—utterly at
variance with facts—have been promulgated, without
their authors appearing to have any particular ob-
ject in viow. Be this as it may, it is unquestionable
that such statements, while they tend to embarrass and
perplex many, are too frequently productive of serious
inconvenience to the general community. Having our-
.

selves had frequent opportunities of comparing the yield
of this season's wheats, grown in particular localities,
with those produced in other quarters, we are led to the
conclusion, though, be it observed, we are quite con-
vinced the crop is beneath an average one—that the de-
ficiency is not so great as some parties have affirmed.
On referring, however, to quality, we are prepared to
allow the reports thereon to be correct ; indeed,
nothing can more forcibly illustrate these remarks
than the averages themselves, which not unfrequently
form the most accurate result both of quantity and
quality. Under these circumstances, we may be asked our
opinion as to the future prospects of the wheat trade.
This we most willingly give, knowing, as we do, that upon
this point will rely the operations of the growers, so far
as supply is concerned. In the first place, then, not-
withstanding the deficiencies to which we have just
alluded (for we must not lose sight of the important fact
that at this very moment we have what may be termed
rather a large quantity of old wheat in the country), we
cannot lead ourselves to believe that wheat will be selling
at famine prices; but that they will continue steadily to
advance for some time hence is, we think, placed beyond
a doubt. Our reason for such a conclusion is, that con-
sumption is going on at a rate almost without a precedent,
and which, of course, is chiefly produced by the labouring
classes being in the enjoyment of adequate employment.
One circumstance which would prevent famine prices is
the almost certainty that at no distant day a sweeping
change will be effected in the laws affecting the import
of foreign corn; and another the immense supplies of flour
which are almost daily entering our ports from the
North American possessions, and which are brought into
immediate consumption. Again, such high prices would
have the natural effect of lowering the duties on foreign
produce to a nominal sum ; hence the whole of the
bonded stocks would become available for our markets.
There are, we know, some persons who ridicule the idea
of even additional importations having any effect upon
prices here, informing us, as they do, that, from their
limited quantities, it wonld be impossible for us to make
up the deficiencies in the home yield. This is
a short-sighted view to take:of this important subject.
We are perfectly aware that the produce of wheat this
year, in most of the large continental wheat countries, is
smaller than for some past seasons, and besides which, the
shipments thence to England—from the demand which
has sprung up in other portions of the world—will be
smaller than usual. But how stands the case in the
United States and Canada, places which, in our judg-
ment, are likely at no distant day to bec me almost the
granaries of the world ? Having received, per the last
packet, a most important letter on this very point from
Messrs. Wylie and Egana, of New Orleans, we are en-
abled to write in positive terms on the subject. These
gentlemen inform us that the total produce of grain in
the United States this year has exceeded 800,000,000
bushels, or an average of forty-one bushels to every
human being of the entire population. If, therefore,
we allow ten bushels a year for each of the entire po-
pulation, young and old, amounting now to about
20,000,000, we shall find a surplus of no less than
600,000,000 bushels. Supposing that one-half of that
immense quantity be allowed for the feeding of cattle,
&c., it is impossible not to come to the conclusion that
the Americans, in the event of low duties here, will
supply us with quite as much corn as wo can conveni-
ently take from them. We now come to the considera-
tion of the potato disease, as it is technically called.
This, too, has suffered from overdrawn statements.
Not that we are about to deny it is widely spread, or
that the consumers will, in the long run, be com-
pelled to pay very high rates for them ; still we main-
tain that large quantities, grown on light soils, have
been raised and pitted in good order. In this particular,
therefore, we see no cause for becoming seriously
alarmed at our future prospects. The questions to
consider, in order to solve this important matter, are—
What is the cause of the disease? Will all the diseased
potatoes be entirely lost, without the s'i2htest benefit to
the growers ? The whole of our readers are perfectly
aware that nothing is so injurious to the potato as a wet
season. The past having been one of the most
unfavourable in this respect almost ever known,
the crop, in many parts—especially that grown
on the low and heavy lands has become
tainted with rot. Hence the growers are acting
wisely in giving them to their stall-fed and other
animals, which are, we have every reason to know,
thriving; well upon them. This, as a matter of course,
must effect a great saving in the outlay for the purchase
of other food, and be the means of using those potatoes
which otherwise would have been wholly lost. Bearing
upon the question of the future range in the value of
wheat, we must not forget that the supply of all spring
corn is good, and which may, in many instances, be used
as partial substitutes for wheat. Having now explained
our honest opinions upon the above topics, we must
leave them in the hands of our subscribers, who will, we
think, do well to read them with attention.
The weather during the greater portion of the month
has been extremely changeable, though fine, the time
of year considered. Ploughing and sowing have pro-
gressed with a tolerable degree of rapidity, with the
land in fine condition for the reception of the seed.
Owing to the large available quantities of pabulum, the
stock on most farms has fared extremely well ; yet we
regret to state that a scarcity of sheep exists in many of
our large agricultural districts.
Our advices from Scotland and Ireland are to the ef-
fect, that a slight falling-off is observable in the supply
and quality of the present year's wheat crops, but those
of other grain are reported as tolerably good. The ship-
ments of most grain to the London market have been
more extensive than was pretty generally expected, con-
sidering the alarming rumours afloat respecting the
failure of the potato crop.
In the course of the month the imports of live stock
from abroad, into London and Hull, have been again
extensive-761 oxen and cows, 1,533 sheep, 8 calves, and
40 pigs having arrived in the former, and 370 beasts, and
430 sheep in the latter port. With the exception of
about 100 oxen from Hamburgh, the whole of the above
imports have taken place from Rotterdam, in, for the
most part, good condition.—Farmer's Magazine.

MRS. CANDLER'S MURDER, AT YARMOUTII.-Al-
though Mrs. Dick's statement is full of improbabilities, it has
caused much excitement in the town; and the Magistrates
and Town Council have, during the past week, held private
meetings for the purpose of determining the beat course to be
pursued. On Monday last summonses were issued for a
meeting of the magistrates; they met at three o'clock for the
purpose of hearing Mr. Evans's opinion on the evidence of
Mrs. Dick. Of course we cannot state precisely what was
done at a meeting from which the public were excluded, but
we believe that the meeting came to the determination of re-
questing the Mayor to call a meeting of Mayor's Assistants,
to consider whether they would authorise the taking of a still
higher legal opinion than Mr. Evans had given. We hear
that this gentleman felt the case to be surrounded with so
much difficulty as to advise the Council to avail themselves of
the opinion and advice of the highest law officer in the king-
dom. We understand that the Town Clerk was instructed
to prepare a case, and that the Mayor, who is now in London,
will obtain the opinion during his stay there.—Bury Herald.
REGENT'S CANAL AND NORTH METROPOLITAN.-
A circular, of which the following is a copy, has been circu-
lated throughout the Regent's-park and the northern dis-
tricts of Marylebone :—" To the inhabitants of the Regent's-
park and neighbourhood—Proposed Railways in the Park—
The inhabitants may not be aware that one of the nume-
rous railway schemes of the day is a project for converting
the Regent's Canal, passing along
.the side of the drive on the
north side of the Regent's-park, into a railway. As this, if
carried into effect, would most seriously depreciate the value
of property in the park, be very dangerous to the public re-
sorting to the park, either riding, driving, or walking, from
the numerous accidents that must occur by run-away horses,
startled by the noise of frequent trains, and become a
nuisance to a large body of the inhabitants, a memorial to
the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, urging them to
refuse their consent to this interference with the comforts of
the public and the rights of the inhabitants, has been pre-
pared at a preliminary meeting of Crown tenants, held at the
residence of Sir Peter Laurie, on the 25th instant. You are
earnestly requested to add your signature to those of your
neighbours. The memorial will be brought to you for this
purpose in the course of a day or two."—.Railway Herald.
A GENUINE PHILANTHROPIST.—TheisIandof
tßhoen
Isle s
oafssmkVe
11d and
theveryrockymai
nlan spot
oo
foss, t ofA pland,ec r and is well
lying between
known to mariners for the rugged and dangerous nature of
its coast. There is a famous place of refuge at its north.
western extremity, called the "Buckle Harbour," of very
difficult access, however, which, strange to say, is easier entered
at night than during the day. At the extremity of this
hyperborean solitude is the residence of a poor old widow,
whose lonely cottage is called " the lighthouse,"
from the fact that she uniformly . keeps a lamp
burning in her window all the night. By keep..
ing this light and the entrance o Chet harbour open, a
strange vessel may enter with the greate safety. During
the silent watches of the night, the widow may be seen,
like Norna of the Fitful Head, trimming her little lamp
with oil, fearful that some frail bark may perish through
her neglect; and for this she receives no manner of remu-
neration—it is pure and unmingled philanthropy. The
poor woman's kindness does not rest even here, for
she is unhappy until the benumbed and shivering mari-
ner comes ashore to share her little board, and recruit
himself at her glowing and cheerful fire, and she can
seldom be prevailed upon to accept of any reward. She has
saved more lives than Davy's belt, and thousands of pounds
to the underwriters. This poor creature, in her younger
days, witnessed her husband struggling with the waves, and
swallowed up by the remorseless billows—
" In sight of home smut friends that thronged to save."
This circumstance seems to have prompted her present de-
voted and solitary life, in which her only enjoyment is doing
good.—lnverness Courier.