Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-08-29
From our Regular Correspondent.
Our London Letter.
ENGLISH CROP PROSPECTS.

LONDON, Aug. 10th, 1879.
| To the Editor of the Free Press and Times:
Agricultural prospects vary according to
the point of view. Not that any district in
England is enjoying a cheerful outlook; but
only that the gloom and encouragement
differ in intensity according to the character
of the husbandry pursued. In a general way
it may be said that pastoral districts present
a more promising aspect than the region
mainly devoted TO containing. The Sum-
mer's grazing of cattle and of fatting sheep
would be fairly prosperous, owing to the
abundance of grass, and the comparative
quicscence of contagious disease, if the Wa
terry and abnormally- forced heritage had
more proof" in it, and if reasonable prices
had been obtainable for the light clips which
have not enabled the farmer to draw hand
some share of his years proceeds in the
shape of the wool-buyers' cheque. But,
on the other hand, breeding flocks
have suffered severely-thc losses of lambs
have been disastrous from the persistent con-
tinuance of excessive downfalls of rain,
which have kept pastures and seeds and for
age crops in sodden and unhealthy layers.
Even dairy farmers are in difficulty, though
their chief stress is the low market for their
products, and the cruel encroachment of
American cheeses upon the monopoly Of
quality heretofore enjoyed by home made
Cheshire, Cheddar and Stilton.
As to the hay harvest, while only a very
small proportion of the meadow hay can pos
sibly have been got well, a larger guam
tity than probably at any former time has
been spoiled in the rick owing 10 hasty and
insufficient making. The quality of nearly all
is detcrioratcd from the mere fact of the late
ness of the period of cutting result
ing in an over-ripe and woody con-
dition of the grass and waste
of the nutrient properties which were
at their maximum when weather forbade the
risk of putting in the scythe or mowingma-
chine. Large breadths of meadow hay are
at this moment lying in the swath-bulky
elpNllsr llluttu, bul udLulubuS " splthAA
out properly with the tedding machine, and
to treat properly with view to color, fra
GRANGE and quality, besides involving heavy
labor of teams and hands Just when all the
forces of the farm are in demand for over
taking some of the tillage operations, such as
the wedding of green crops, which the weather
hoa rnaIa lnp.r ovarflna and tho
mencement of pca-cutting and other labors
now pressing closely upon the heels of each
other. The crop Of clover hay too is only
partially secured. The actual destruction of
hay by the catastrophes of flooding rivers
and deluging rains and waterspouts must
have been very great. Taking the condition
of the principal hay districts into account,
and applying the same throughout England
and Wales, it may well be estimated that the
fodder for next winter is many millions of
pounds sterling short in value.
The prospects forcorn farmers and for root
growers, for the winter keepo sheep, and also
for the cieanly culture of land next year may
be understood from few notes with regard
to particular districts. And as a sample of
a fine corn country take parts of Essex and
Hertfordshire, extending between Chelms-
ford and point westward of Bishops Start
forth. In journeys by railway and drive
through the clay county of Roothing and the
kinder land nearer Chelmsford and about
Dunmow and Bishops Startforth, | am ina
pressed with these governing features the
failure of the barleys, the thinness of wheats.
the foulness of the fallows and, indeed of all
land, and the number of dungheaps and
farmyards full of manure which the farmers
have been unable to apply either for the
present or next years crops
This year, of all others, the farmers disap-
pointed in their usual early understanding
time, sOwed more acres than ever with bar
ley 4; and, indeed, an eye TO the probable
market has lead them TO expect better money
returns from the beer making than from the
cereal. But barley is more
sensitive than wheat to climatic influences.
The inclement Spring and Summer have
it more. The plant is so thin and
the stems are 50 weak that the whole crop
must be looked upon as more or less fail
ure. Yours, Nix.