Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-10
AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR AUG.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR AUG.
LONDON, Sept This has been, as 1t gene
rally is, a month dedicated to the labours OF the
harvest. Little was done before the beginning OF
the month, out then the reapers went 10 "orA
with the wheat in earnest, and In short time
the greater part Of it in the Southern districts OF
Great Britain was cut and carried. lhe 0ar'ey
and oats followed, and for about three weeks all
went on as prosperously as heart could WISH. IL
was dry, sunny, and warm; without mists, with
out rain, and freshened by gentle breezes. But
an entire change has at length come upon US
For these 10 days past the weather has been
threatening, and partial showers have gone about.
in some quarters heavy, 10 others light, and the
progress Of the harvest has been considerably
impeded; but on Sunday night downright serious
heavy rain commenced. which has continued.
with some anxious intervals, up to the present
time, with a continual heavy water-charged at
mosphere. Every description OF corn that Is
abroad is drenched and soaked; straw and grain
to the core. Unfortunately, even in the South
ern parts Of England there is too much in the
field cut, and not carried Of wheat, perhaps.
not very considerable quantity; some OF the
backward turnip wheat, some the produce Of
cold soils, and some the property of taggards.-
Dut Vdte duu UdIlSNs pdtueu'atiy tuS 'ot'S's wv
very generally caught. A change of weather.
had been indicated for some days, the alteration
had been foreseen and expected, and consequent
" every one has been fastening to cut aud carry
as fast as he could; but in this latter operation
most have been baffled by the teazing flying show
ers that came drzzIing over the crops, Just as
they were ready to be iorked or carted. Sumo
few, the fortunate cultivatOrs of warm, forward
soIls-some lucky ones, whom the showers. in
their caprice, passed by, with none or only few
drops from their skirts-have been able to secure
their spring corn in time; but, in general, far
mers have been toiling and bustling only TO pros
trate their crops before this soaking rain There
they lie without remedy, some in cock, some in
swathe, the barley soldering, staining. sprout
ing; the pulse, OF which the late sorts are still
abroad, 6ackening. bursting, wasting; the oats
resisting the wet best, butwth little chance OF
being preserved from growing. should this YEA
Their continue; and from the long period Of drought
that has occurred, there is but too much reason
to apprehend that it may be succeeded by heavy
and protracted rain. We pray that our fears
NAV be groundIess, and that an interval at least
of dry weather, for the securing Of our crops,
may be vouchsafed by Him who has promised
that seed time and harvest shall not cease. :"
In the North of course, the business Of agricul-
ture is not so forward, and the wheat harvest not
So far advanced; 1t is, however, matter OF con-
ISOLATION that through England, in general. larg
err portion of wheat than usual has been secured
in excellent condition. The produce of the har.
vest, according to appearances, and accounts
from various quarters. must be large. The qua
lity of the wheat is generally good, as is kewise
the case with oats.
When real plentiful harvest is in progress.
with rumors of abundance far beyond the reality,
with favorable accounts Of the crops on the Con.
tinent, and more than million of quarters Of
bonded grain in warehouses, it is not surpris-
ing that prices should fall. Accordingly It ap.
pears that wheat has very considerably declined,
with the expectation Of farther depression,
which, however, the continuance of rainy wea-
Their may have tendency to elevate. But then
comes the serious question, mhat is TO be done
,Uifh The millions of quarters Of foreign corn now
in ,he warehouses? The importers have cot
wolf by the ear, which they know not whether
to hold or to let loose. Whenever he is libcrat.
ed it is probable that both merchants and farm.
ers may be pretty severely bitten. If this large
stock be now thrown into the market, IN coniunc.
toa with the supply Of plentiful harvest, it
will probably lower prices to degree that will
bear hard both on the importer aud the British
farmer, that will achieve tbe ruin Of MANY now
struggling with long succession of difficulties,
and will convert that plenty, which ought to prove
blessing, into fruitful source Of misery and
disaster.
II the importer will not consent to pay the pre-
ent high duty, he must make up his mind to keep
large capital unproductively locked M for a
considerable time; or he may be compelled bye
and bye to submit to the paymen, of still high.
er duty, and to dispose of his commodity even
on worse terms than at present In the mean
time i, is a fearful thing for the farmer to have
this enormous mass Of grain hanging over the
market. and ready to overwhelm it whenever it
may chance to be let loose upon it. The Reve.
nue would certainly receive considerable addi-
ton by the payment Of the present duty on so
large stock Of grain, but it would be more than
counterbalanced 6v the ruin of numerous midi
viduaIs On the whole, the present crisis seems
to demonstrate that our system of corn laws Dos.
sesses too much of speculative & gambling cha
racter to be salu,arv for the merchant, and that
it also tends to produce too great an accumula.
ton OF grain in the warehouses to be safe for the
British grover. Present circumstances lead to
the conclusion that Dermanppt ysd futv ,.ouI in