The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-22
PETERSBURG, August 81, Is

Ell Il, ICOCs
In consequence of the long and excessive
drought which prevailed in England during
the present summer, serious alarm was felt
that the wheat crop would prove failure.
The latest information, however, goes to
show that the yield has been unusually
abundant, and the grain of the very finest
quality.
advert to this fact for the purpose of
stating that the result of the English crop,
under the circumstances, is in exact accord
ance with the results of crops under like
circumstances in this country. Almost
every person of intelligence has heard OF
the dry summer of 1906, when there was no
rain from the middle of April to the au-
tumnal equinox. From the time, therefore,
when the wheat plant began to joint until
harvest it received no benefit from the
clouds. The ears did not even fully emerge
from the boot; and yet / have often heard
the old people say that in all their expe-
rience they had never had better crop.
Other things, of course, were complete
failure. The season of 1916 was not unlike
that of 1906; and of this your correspond
ent has quite distinct recollection. 1t was
another great wheat year and 80 Of other
dry seasons which have occurred since that
time.
The reason why the wheat crops have
failed for the last four or five years is the
excess of wet during the month of May and
up to the period of harvest, thus stimu-
lating the growth Of straw at the expense
of the grain. Not but that occasional show
ers are beneficial, but all careful observers
are cognizant of the fact that cool and
moderately dry spring is the most favorable
for a good yield, both as to quantity and
quality.
Farmers are very apt to jump to conclu-
sions, and to say that our climate has
changed. 1t is believed, however, that no
sufficient data exist for any such opinion.
The writer Of this has known as many as
six or eight consecutive seasons Of short
wheat crops; and again, the same number
OF fruitful ones. The seasons, as to their
character, appear to reyolve in q sort Of
cycle and now, having had several disas-
trous ones, we may reasonably expect an
equal number OF propitious ones to follow.
Let the farmer, therefore, continue his'work
in the abiding faith that every irregularity
will be succeeded by q just compensation.
The manufacturers of tobacco are all put
ting up their signs according to the require
ments of the law. Thus far sixteen facto-
ries are registered, but some Of them are
of small capacity, and are worked by CO.
lorea owners. tits understood that those
which have been temporarily closed will
soon be put importation again, perhaps in
d few days. E
There was something Of asmash-up yes.
terday at the Southside depot. The en-
gineer of one Of the locomotives, not yet
attached to the train, having put ii in rum
ming order, left it for few minutes in
charge of a fireman, who put the steam on.
This set il in motion, and the fireman, not
being able 10 stop it, jumped off and left il
to itself. II ran against o freight train.
breaking three cars, and endangering the
lives of some of the employees. The engine
but little damage. 80 Il
The wheat market is weaker to-day by at
least five cents. I have heard Of nothing
better than s2.70, though prime sample
night bring s2.75.