The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-06 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND CROPS.
The past week has done much to relieve thefear:4 entei•-
tained of the fo.te of the h,-trvest. (h;

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improvement ix-eel the pree, ding in vtartuili Limit :net-
day, when the heat was excessive—the barometer stand-
ing at nearly 80 deg. in the shade. Yesterday morning
a slight frost was experienced, and it appeared for
awhile as if rain was going to set in, and disappoint the
expectations of those husbandmen who were ready to
commence reaping; but after a cloudy forenoon the sun
at length burst through, shedding his beams with equal
brilliancy as on the preceding day. Under such cheer-
ing influences, we are enabled to look abroad and behold
reapers engaged in many fields in the neighbourhood,
and note a pretty extensive tract where the crept have
assumed a tinge that in a few days will subject them also
to the opc ration of the sickle. In other parts of the
county we learn that harvest has likewise briskly begun;
and under such favourable auspices as the present, it
will be general in a week in most parts of Ayrshire. In
the comparatively high-iying districts of Terbolton and
Mauchline, however, we understand the crops will not
be fully ripe for a fortnight to come. Along the shore,
at Ballantrae, a number of fields were begun to be cut
down on Saturday. The farmers say they can scarcel}
recollect of such a wet summer; and it is believed that
nothing could have sustained the crops on their way to
maturity amidst such heavy rains, had it not been for
the very excellent seed tune, and the well prepared state
of the soil.—Ayr Observer.
During the last eight days the weather has been truly
delightful, and the crops have consequently undergone
material improvement in all quarters; wheat and barley,
in particular, now present a luxuriant appearance, and,
unless on poor soils, are quite ready for the sickle. A
good deal of both has already been reaped, and in a few
days harvest will be general throughout the neighbour.
hood. The same ag.-eeable weather, we are glad to say,
has prevailed in all parts of the country, and has begun
to lower the prices of grain, little doubt being now enter-
tained of a very favourable harvest.—Tyne Mercury.
For the last few days we have indeed enjoyed all the
warmth and beauty of summer. Never was there finer
weather; never did the country look more promising; we
hope a happy omen for the coming harvest. All round
the city the country presents the aspect of a smiling
garden, and the farmers are in high hope and high
spirits. We sincerely hope for a continuance of such
favourable sunshine just now, and we shall have shortly
the ripe ears of corn come " reeling down to earth."-
- Cork-Examiner.
THE HARVEST.—Since Wednesday last the weather
has been highly favourable for bringing to maturity all
kinds of crops. There has been a constant succession of
fine light breeees and bright sunshine, which have had a
wonderful effect in ripening the grain. The wheat fields
were slightly lodged by the late heavy rains, and some
of those early sown have suffered from the rust. The
quantity of wheat grown in the north is, however, unim-
portant, compared with the- other crops, The shearing
of barley is now in progress all the way from Elgin to
Dingwall, and a finer.. crop was never seen. In this
neighbourhood the scythe and sickle have both been at
work—at Bught, Kinmylies, and along the banks of the
Canal, stooks are rising. At Holm, Mr. Grant has a
splendid field of oats which will be cut in a few days. On
Friday last Mr. Macdonald of Croyard, near Beauly, cut
an excellent field of barley ; and at Taichrich, in the
same vicinity, shearing commenced on Monday. On Mon
day 150 shearers were at work on the farm of Drynie,
Barley harvest was commenced at Rosehaugh on Friday,
and 100 shearers have since been busy on the Mains
Farm. The last few days have had an astonishing
effect on the crops. We had an opportunity last week
of seeing the country from this town to Strathpeffer, and
were highly gratified with the appearance it presented
The barley fields were richly luxuriant, and the turnips
(especially at Contin and around Beauly) strong and
healthy. In Nairn and Morayshire, the turnip crop on
light soils, where late sown, is not so promising, but it.
the north the appearance is universally good. A Caith-
ness correspondent Writes—" Crops are late and greet,e
no
; you can hav
in
ideao rokfney, their
lbuuxtu
rri
ae
nmeaer.k a
Here
eh ev‘a.evyshall. have harvestir.
'about a fortnight, and a large crop. Turnips and po
tatoes are good everywhere. Grass is rather scarce,
owing to the bad weather, but it will improve yet it
this fine weather continues. Nothing has been done fot
the last month in the sale of cattle."—lnverness Courier.
Tun- HARVEST.—The operations of the harvest in this
district are proceeding with remarkable alacrity. Se-
veral large breadths of produce of every description
have already fallen before the scythe and sickle, and, in
some instances, secured in barn and stack. The state ol
the weather has been favourable for these operations ;
although it has not partaken of that clear an l brilliant
character which is essentially necessary for the speedy
ripening of the grain.- Various opinions prevail with re-
gard to the probable yield. Speaking generally, it may
approach an average crop e but it is unquestionable that
in some localities, notwithstanding the abundance of
straw, there will be a deficiency, arising principally from
the unfavourable state of the weather during the im-
portant period of blossoming. Happily, however, the se-
rious apprehensions which began to agitate the popular
feeling, with regard to the safety of the crops, has now
subsided with the occurrence of favourable harvest wea-
ther.—Doncaster Gazette.
The harvest in the " far west" may be said to be
pretty general. As we stated a week or two since, the
yield of wheat is not so large as last year—but the
barley and oats are fully average crops.—Penzance
Gazette.
AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR THE NEIGH-
BOURHOOD OF DEVIZES.

It is a satisfaction after the different opinions, contra-
dictory statements, and general ill-forbodings, respect-
ing the wheat crop, to arrive at that period when an
opinion may be formed ; especially as the result is so far
beyond what the most sanguine had anticipated. Till
the 20th of August the weather was cold, wet, and un-
genial ; the crops wore a green and blighted aspect, and
though the ears were fine the grain was soft, and imma-
tured. Since then the weather has been fine and dry,
and the sun powerful, which has completely changed the
appearance of the crop, in ripening the grain and im-
proving the colour and quality bey and any expectation.
On the low lands the bulk of straw is very great, and,
excepting where lodged, which is not to any extent, the
quality is good ; the same may be said of the best hill
lands, of both of which there will be considerably above
an average. On the light description of bill soils the
quality is thin, as well as on the new broke down lands.
On the latter the plant is also in many places thin on
the land ; altogether the crop will be above an average
of very fair quality. Reaping commenced about the
25th, and will be finished generally this week; nearly
half has been harvested : another week of fine weather
will suffice to complete the remainder.
The crops of both oats and barley are large, and of
good quality, many fields of the former having already
been cut and harvested. Beans, peas, and vetches are
very good—much above an average crop. The turnip
crop, as well as other kinds of sheep food, are very
overlast year.
plentiful. Sheep in
are good condition, and selling freely
The potato crop, which till lately promised so luxu-
riantly, is everywhere blighted by a disease, the nature
at 4s. to 55. per head
of which is as yet unexplained ; the leaf of the haulm
is first affected, presenting a withered appearance, which
gradually extends down the haulm, and eventually
reaches the root ; the only remedy seems to be to cut or
pull up the haulm, which should be done before the con-
tagion reaches the root.—Wiltshire Independent.
TAE POTATO CROP.—So serious has been the disease
which has attacked the potato crops almost every-
where, that at Redruth market on Friday last a market
gardener of this neighbourhood sold a considerable
quantity at 23. per bushel, for pigs. The individual we
allude to assures us that in consequence of the failure in
his crops he shall lose between 1001. and 2001. We
understand from a farmer who resides at St. Erth, that
in that parish many fields of potatoes have escaped the
blight altogether, whil:t others have been only partially
affected, and some entirely destroyed. Those partially
diseased seem to be rapidly recovering, and the stalks
exhibit much vigour, and he is of opinion that very
shortly they will have been so far restored as to leave
no trace of the blight which has created such general
apprehension and alarm. We learn, also, from a person
called CurnoW, residing at Newlyn, near this town, that
he has several acres of potatoes which have altogether
escaped the blight, while other fields doze by have been
seriously affected.—Penzance Gazette.