The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-03 00:00:00

THE HARVEST.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—The crops in East Norfolk and East Suffolk are
extremely variable, as much so as the farmers : indeed
the means and talent of the producer have no little to
do with its results, two qualities of which our yea-
ananry, however blessed, are extremely unwilling to give
demonstration. That great disproportions do exist is
-sisible in every locality, but the wheat crop on the well-
'lmmured and good cultivated soils, which have been
considered profitable wheat-growing lands, are not so
prodactive as the past year by 6 to 8 bushels per acre,
but where beef and mutton are abundantly produced
oil-cake or other artificial food, crops are very
istrikingly augmenting yearly, and in this part of the
i lsngdom a difference of from 80.Vea50 per cent. is
visible. It is equally apparent, that where the large
farmer has proper security from his landlord, that the
extra production suffices to meet a lower price, but
avhere the occupations are small, scaroely any lease
d r security is either sought or offered. This of course
is politically right, and that very convenient Chandos
lause of 501. has been one of the principal causes of
snaking it an unproducing one. A paying production
mast be sought; therefore the sooner the impost duties
en every description of food, whether for bread
on. feeding cattle, be annulled, the sooner will agricul-
ture be sought by those who now make a jest of pro-
fitable investments, and the man of moderate under-
:standing, who endeavours to show facts—apparently
aMse—is considered endowed with consummate impu-
.lence who dares assert that great names with little
fortunes are not divested of self-interest when their
favourite theme at agricultural meetings to their tenants
is " improvement by art," "no cost to be spared to
yrfict a crop," without any security to them for their
. utlay; nor is he an expectant, for he is not sure he
:hall reap the fruits of his capital, skill, and industry.
"rhe folly of praise, as we this week see in the Mark
Jane Expess, " Graham U. Tweddell," is dearly pur-
e hosed, and a sorry recompence. I have at this time
is Russian geetleman of much intelligence travelling
2Or information in my pursuits; his extremely rational
inquiry why I made so much beef and mutton ? pleased
vie exceedingly. I told him I lived under an excel-
lent country squire, whose estate was his own, and that
Ids confirmed opinion was he thought those were the
peost rational tenantry who seta value on their own re
vairces by endeavouring to increase the growth of every,
t:,ing for their own profit, and who was equally con-
:aced it was beneficial to his estate; that many tenants
s..nd landlords had not real capital, that both who pos-
sessed it were unwilling to emit money from their purses
a.lieri once in their pockets, and though in law to mur-
er is, to kill, so it is to steal when we plunder the
Ledlord, and thus bruise ourselves. As I intended this
have been an agricultural report of the growing
crops, I prenounce the barley to be greater than last
par, however the lateness of the season and the vigo-
roue growth of the young clover will place the quality
vary much in jeopardy, and where much lodged
curly cutting will be necessary, whereas, by a delay to
ieow, is greater injury will arise, although a ripe
I,,ntri is desirable for the malt ter. Oats are so little
cultivated in either of the above divisions that I will
proceed to the bean and pea crops. At least they are
rtain to he plentifully produced in acres, for tenants
1., Ay not s.li hay, consequently the bean crop is more
a, ria able to their pocket. Would it not be better for
owners of land to allow their tenants to exchange
every description of food for oil-cake or other arti-
F. -id food, for a tenant-at-will would of necessity and
rudence not purchase linseed cake, &c., yet if he were
sell .wed to do this and have security for his outlay, as
iu parts of Lincolnshire, he would produce fat in lieu
4.f lean meat, and the proprietor ultimately be a great
gainer by the improvement of his property. Peas are
I,ell kidded, but the wet weather has much diminished
the quantity. Turnips on cold lands not promising,
lout on kind soils good ; mangel wurzel good ; clovers,
ith understanding clover farmers, good. As my
time is peetiy well occupied I shall merely subscribe
in) self,—Yours very faithfully,
JOHN GEDNEY.
Redenhall, Aug. 27, 1845.