Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-15
Crops In France.

We do not expect to learn the true condition Of the
French crops from French papers. Correspondents
from Paris may give information. What
seems to be certain is that for or 10 weeks precc-
ding the goth of July, the rain had been falling in
torrents. NJ. Gailarlet in his letter to the Courier
dcs Etdts" Unis, dated Paris, 18th July, says
at is not the that cmbarrasses the present and
dsquiets the future much the uncertainty with
respect to the crops The Government endcavors
to re-assure public opinion by making the papers
state that the grain is uninjurcd notwithstanding the
bad weather and that the farmers sowcd fifth more
land this year than last and that the price is rather
falling than rising. There is truth in this for
all hope is not extinct, tho the damage is already
great The incessant rains have beat down tie
Wheat aud caused rust The crops will he pretty
fair in the South Of France where the harvest has
commenced. But they become worse and worse in
the East and West.
las to the wine crop, that is ruined beyond RENE
dy, by the cold and the rot of the grape The quail.
ty and quantity will be equally defective.
"The apprehensions excited by this state OF things
are paralyzing industry, and the Government is un>
easy at the little interest manifested by manufactu-
rcrs in entering for the exposition in 1856"
The "Eeho Agrieole" of Paris, of the 10Th July,
has the following:
"The first days Of the week were rainy Thursday
and Friday were favorable, but Saturday the rain
begins afresh Complaints come from nearly all the
departments about these ncessant rains, which de-
stroy the hay, and inure the wheat harvest in the
South.
much of the wheat has lodged within the last
eight days; but as yet the evil is not serious With
favorable weather, the lodged wheat may mature It
will not do to judge Of the crop from this appearance
or from any other. The time is not yet come, when
safe opinion can be pronounced. To the last day,
one is liable to miscalculatons; and nothing certain
can be known till the crop is perfectly matured
"Advices from some parts of the South, where tic
harvest has commenced say the yield less than was
expected and the quality sonly mediocre. We speak
OF part of Provence and lower Languedoc In upper
Languedoc is ascertaned that the yield will be les
than the appearance promised. 1t is supposed, it vii
be q fair average. The next mail may give MS far
Their news"
This is all Paris paper can say. We can form
our own idea of the effects of eight weeks rain upon
the crops, while blooming. A Paris correspondent
OF the n. Y. Times gives more gloomy picture than
the Paris paper:
PARIS, Thursday, July Is, 1851
The rain is incessant, unreentng / nav safely say
that do not remember such season. In the las, ter
weeks there have not been days without rain
For six weeks 1t Tell constantly, bu: naturally
Since then, however, the weather has been nominal,
fair and the rain comes in the form of showers These
however, are frequcnt-from four to eight day-nnd arr
very heavy. The ground was soaked long since b.vo,d
its capacity fortnight ago il said On all hand thai
the crops had borne all the moisture that was possible
to bear that heat and sunshine were now
and that any further water would be destructive From
that time 10 this there has been but day withoui
rain. but in the night OF that day there drenching
shower. The state OF things has now become actually
critical.
departments in all Of France and have come 10 the
conclusion that the wheat crop has really suffered and
that the yield will be inferior one. Even were the
great staple unharmed the resources Of the country
would be diminished, for the reason that In France the
whole produce Of the earth for year is SO nicely cac
lated that every eaabe thing it yields Is an important
item n the total The failure of the chestnut crop il
calamity in the chestnut dsct-which it would no, be
were the wheat crop abundant IL always ought to
be- Beans are an essential element CT food in many
quarters, and they under the heading of Crejs
comprehensive word, for which the best translation i.
Breadsuiis" This fact alone shows the importance q!
the importance OF the bean ia the estimates OF
year the bean crop considerably under the average
Thsaue may be said O! many other vegetables and even
OF certain sorts OF fruits that dried aud preserved ion
winter Snch state Of things never ought TO exist H.
any country. Avarety is excellent thing beans
chestuuts vegetables fruits though in highest degree
worthy OF cultivation, ought be reckoDed in h,
food tables OF the year. be relied case the sta
pies fail
France very rarely EXPORTS it is only in seasons when
all the favorable circumstances possible occur that size
has thing spare. Four years out of seven she has
eoough-bareiy enough. The slightest misfortune of
wind or weather Is sufficient damage the beans or the
vines and then there is deficiency at once of food or nj
drink Now and then, once 10 seven years there Isl
drought as las; year. aud from time to time deluge as
1t the present moment
cannot reject the belief that, this year as last there
VIII DO an insufficient harvest especially when .ss tba
black cloud rising Mount vaeau in tn, south pre-
pairing to douse, for the feth time the water soaked
neds At any tate We shall soon know the actual state
ef tho The resping has not We. begun ia the MORN
OF France, though Is about time The ernss il ca, In
many quarters but fully third Of Il never became hay
and portion OF that which did, has been housed or
stacked Rim rarely Injuries grass but il death to
hay"
The Crops In the United States.