Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1848-09-09
ENGLANp-wEATHER AND CROPS.

TLondon Shipping Gazette, august Is
At length some mprov cmcnt has taken place in
the weather After very heavy fall Of rain OIL
Monday, the wind yeercd round 10 the eastward,
and though the sky has been overcast and we have
had but little sunshine, the absence of rain for some
days must be regarded fortunate IN the position OF
agricultural affairs. very large proportion Of the
crops in the southern parts Of the kingdom has been
cut several days, and having been exposed TO the
heavy showers the quality has suffered greatly; IN
many instances the corn has begun 10 Sprout Ia tho
ear, and wherever this has occurred few more wet
days would have proved destructive 10 the quality
and mealing properties Of the gram. The standing
crops have escaped better, but, on the whole, the
prospects for the harvest are far from encouraging,
and it is nearly certain that the yield of wheat will
fall short Of average. In regard to potatoes the
reports likewise, sorry 10 say, very I'M
favorable; the disease is decidedly spreading, and
has attacked the late sorts more generally than the
early varieties; hence scarcity OF this useful root,
will, in ali probability be experienced later IN the
year.
Meanwhile the apprehension felt to any portion
of the apparently sound potatoes keeping, is the cause
of the markets being at present gluttcd with the ar
ticle So large have the supplies been IN many parts
of the country TO occasion the price u be dcprcss
ed lower than at any other period for years past
the natural consequence of which is that the poorer
classes are consuming potatoes instead OF bread;
hence the demand for flour has greatly fallen of, and
so long the former article lasts, the demand for
flour is likely TO be comparatively small This cir
cumsancc is the principal of the comparative
absence OF excitement in the wheat trade, and is
powerful check TO speculation.
If the present weather should continue, no mate
rial rise in the value Of wheat would, think, take
place, for though, already remarked much
fear that the produce will be inferior, both in guam
tty and quality, to that Of average seasons, there
several causes in operation tending to act against
rise. The losses sustained last year by all parties
engaged in the trade swept away considerable
amount of the capital previously employed in this
branch of business, and stl dricrs others from en-
tering into grain Speculaiions. The mcrs body
have all along acted, and continue 10 act with
IRENE caution; and whilst we havc-as has been the
case for a long time pa t-only hand to mouth de-
mand the supplies are likely TO b. adequate to the
wants of the trade. II is besides pretty certain that
farmers who are still large holders Of old wheat
will so soon as the harvest shall have been com.
pleted deliver freely, for that they look with appre
hension to the effect of the total removal OF the duty
in February cannot be qucstioned We are there
fore of opinion that unless we should unfortunately
have a return of bad weather, quotations OF wheat
will not get up much, notwithstanding the damage
already done.
At Mark lane on Monday there was certainly less
life in the trade than might have been expected
Though the show of wheat by land carriage samples
from the home counties moderate, and The morn
ipg excessively wet, buyers acted on the reverse
and for more than hour after the opening oil the
market scarcely a sale made. Later IN the Gay
a large purchase was made for-report said-irish
account and the mlers took the remainder at Prices