The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-07-23 00:00:00

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

CUMBERLAND.—During the week the weather has been
all the farmers could desire, as we have had a most
agreeable succssion of rain and sunshine. On Saturday
and Sunday several heavy shHwers fell, and on Monday,
St. Swithin duly "kept up his charter" by a copious
downfall ; but the rain, although heavy, has not been
sufficit nt to lay the wheat crop to any noticeable ex-
to t, while all other vegetation Las derived the most
talpable benefit from it. In this district, it is expected
that wheat will exceed the average, and the other grain
crops will not he far short, if at all. Potatoes have
suffered most, but l ss actual harm has been done by the
drought than was at first anticipated, and some fields
equal in promise to any that we have noticed in former
ye,rs. Turnips look well in most soils, and as a con-
siderable breadth of land ha, been sown with them this
year, it is expected they will be cheap and plentiful. The
prices of stock have bren favourably influenced by the
prospects of the harvest; and we hear little or none of
the habitual "grumbling" of the farmers now.—Carlisle
Patriot.

WEST YORKSIIIRE.—The fine genial alternations of
raic and sunshine by which the present week has been dis-
tinguished have tended materially to improve the pros-
pects of the approaching harvest. Much of the hay has
been already secured, but in passing along the country few
hay-stacks are to be seen ; the barne have been found
generally sufficient to receive the scanty produce, but the
year's growth of grass is not exhausted, and the second
cut of clover, as well as the after-grass of the meadows,
will, in some degree, supply the deficiency. The turnip
seed that had remained dormant in the ground during the
drought now begins to show itself in vigorous plants,
though the crop will be small, from many fields turning
out total or partial failures. There will also be a defici-
ency of straw from the spring sown corn, and the fodder
to cattle in the approaching winter will be scarce and dear.
The wheat crops continue to look very flourishing; they
are already "white to harvest," and they will, according
to present prospects, soon fill the granaries. In the bean
and potato crops we see little difference since last week.—
Leeds Mercury.

EAST YORKSHIRE.—The weather is as seasonable as
the most sanguine farmer could wish it. Wheat-cutting
is likely to be commenced much earlier than usual. The
repents respecting the probable yield of wheat are, with
few exceptions, favourable. Barley, though greatly im-
proved within the last few weeks, can scarcely be ex-
pected to produce well, the previous drought having had
a very injurious effect on this plant. Beans have reco-
vered wonderfully; and peas and oats will, we trust, yield
a better return than was earlier in the season deemed
possible. On the whole, therefore, our prospects are en-
couraging ; and the apprehensions of scarcity have given
place to well-grounded hopes of a fair, if not a good,
yield of most of the productions of the earth. Even the
shortness of the hay crop is likely to be compensated by
a good second crop of grass ; and instead of a dear winter,
of which at one time there was reason to be fearful, we
think that some decline in prices of grain is not impro.
bable. From Lincolnshire and Norfolk our reports are
favourable. Happily the rain came just in time to save
the turnip crop, and at this moment the ground is well
covered with plant. —Hull Packet,

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.—Finer weather could not possibly
be than has prevailed for some weeks for filling and ripen-
ing the crops of wheat, which, although generally short
in the straw, are remarkably kind and perfect in the ear,
and likely to prove a good average crop ; and, should the
weather prove fine for the harvest, will be of excellent
quality. Should no untoward weather occur, the harvest
will commence in about a fortnight. The barley crops
are of various kinds : the early planted is generally a good
crop, and on early soils nearly fit to harvest; but where
the planting was deferred too long, a considerable portion
of the seed remained dry in the ground until the late rain
before it appeared, whilst the first UD was shot into ear.
In other instances planting was deferred till there was
sufficient rain to bring the barley up, some of which is
but just breaking the ground. This, although so late
sown, may with a fine autumn, come to perfection. The
crops of beans are generally very short in the straw, but
are tolerably well podded, and, although much improved
by the late rains, will be far below an average crop.—
Gloucester Chronicle.

THE AMENDED RAILWAY BILL.

The amended Railway Bill has just come out, with
alterations in some manner anticipated by the result of
the interview of the railway deputation with Mr. Glad-
stone on Wednesday, which has ore') rumoured. By the
bill as amended, the enactments are limited to new rail-
ways, the old lines being expressly exempted. The re-
vision of rates is to take place in twenty-one years (in the
original bill it was fifteen) on the new lines, that clear an
annual profit of 10 per cent. on paid-up capital, such
profit of 10 per cent. to be guaranteed, and no further
revision is to take place till the end of a further period of
twenty-me years. The modified clause relating to pur-
chases, with the additions by the committee, we give
entire. The latter are marked A and B. _ .

" 2. That whatever may be the rate of divisible profits in
any such railway, it shall be lowful for the said Lords
Commissioners, it they shall think fir, at any time alter
the expiration of the said term of 21 years, to purchase
any such railway, with all its hereditaments, stock, and
appurtenances, in the name and on behalf of her 'Majesty;
upon giving to the said company three calendar months
notice in writing of their intention, and upon payment of
a sum equal to 25 years' purchase of the said annual
divisible profits, estimated on the average of the three
then next preceding years : Provided always, that if the
average rate of profit for the said three years shall exceed
the rate of.£lo in the hundred, it stall be taken at only
£lO in the hundred, for the purpose of calculating thereon
the amount of such purchase-money : Provided also, that
if the average rate of profits for the said three years shall
be less than the rate of £lO in the hundred, it shall be
lawful for the company, if they shall be of opinion that
the said rate of 25 years' purchase of the said average
profits is an inadequate rate of purchase of such railway,
reference being bad to the prospects thereof, to require
that the rate of purchase, instead of being calculated
upon such average rate of profit, shall be taken at a
valuation, to be determined, in case of difference, by
arbitrat ion.
"3. (A.) That nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued to subject to the same option of revision or pur-
chase any railway made or authorised to be made by any
act previous to the present session ; and that no branch
or extension of less than five miles in length of any exist-
ing line of railway shall be taken to be a new railway within
the provisions of this act ; and that the said option of
purchase shall not be exercised as regards any branch or
extension of any existing railway, without including in
the purchase the existing railway ; also in case the com-
pany of proprietors of the same shall require that the
same be so included.
"4. (B) And whereas it is expedient that the policy
of calling into exercise the powers of revision or purchase
hereby reserved, or either of them, should in no manner
be prejudged by the provisions of this act. and should re-
main for the future consideration of the Legislature,
upon grounds of general and national policy ; and whereas
it is not the intention of this act. that under the said
powers of revision or purchase, if called into use, the
public resources should be employed to sustain an undue
competition against any independent company or compa-
nies; be it enacted, that no such notice as hereinbefure
mentioned, whether of revision or purchase, shall he given
until provision shall have been made by Parliament, by
an act or acts to be passed in that behalf, for authorizing
the guarantee or the levy of the purchase motley herein-
before mentioned, as the case may be, and far determin-
ing, subject to the conditions hereinbefore mentioned,
the manner in which the said options, or either of them,
shall be exercised : Provided always, that before any ap-
plication is made to Parliament for the powers to exercise
the sa.d options, or either of them, three months' notice
shall be given by the said Lords Commissioners to the
company or companies to be affected thereby, of the in-
tention so to arply."