352 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



end of July, the rye and rape seed particularly suffering. Their stocks of old corn 

 are said to be very limited. 



There have been as yet no arrivals of new corn or seeds from the Continent, all 

 the late imports consisting of old, part of which have been re-exported. The 

 arrivals of both, new, have been dropping into the ports of London and Liverpool, 

 from Ireland, and into those of Scotland throughout the month. Essex and 

 Kent, the two neighbour counties of the metropolis, sent up an early supply 

 of new wheat and seeds with some parcels of beans. Most of the early samples of 

 wheat, though fair to the eye, proved in the bulk too soft and moist for grinding, 

 unmixed with old ; and some of the seeds were in a very damp state, having been 

 obviously harvested before they were ripe. Such has been the case during the 

 present season with great part of the wheats. The proper point of time at which 

 to apply the sickle, whether ; immediately before ripeness, or to wait until that 

 process shall actually have taken place, is indeed an old subject of controversy, into 

 which we entered with waraith many years since. We have generally seen reason 

 to doubt the equal efficience of an artificial stack or barn ripening, in the produc- 

 tions of fine and heavy samples, compared with the natural one of the soil ; but the 

 former, as apparently promising greater quantity with less waste, has generally 

 been the farmer's favourite. The present season, from various circumstances, has 

 no doubt furnished additional arguments in its favour, and in certain of the 

 western counties it has been so eagerly practised, that after cutting part of the 

 wheat it was found so green and soft that it was absolutely necessary to leave the 

 remainder to its natural process of ripening upon the soil. The finest and ripest 

 samples of new English wheat have reached a very considerable and satisfactory 

 weight, from 62 to 65 Ibs. the imperial bushel. At Edinburgh, early in the 

 month, a shew-sample of a small quantity of new barley was sold at 35s 6d. per 

 quarter, the weight per bushel 52 Ibs. Barley in the proper soils, is a large 

 and heavy crop ; on too strong and poor lands, the reverse ; on all, part of the 

 crop has been affected by blight ; that, however great the aggregate quantity may 

 prove, we must not expect a superabundance of fine malting, or grinding barley 

 from the present harvest. The crop of oats is probably one of the best of the year, 

 prolific both in corn and straw. The beans which have survived the attacks of 

 blight and vermin, are deemed nearly an average crop, but are generally in a soft 

 state. A considerable breadth of wheat was levelled with the ground by the several 

 storms, the weeds springing up through it. The eastern counties, Suffolk par- 

 ticularly, seem to have been most subjected to this calamity, little complained of 

 elsewhere. In the early districts, preparations were making for wheat sowing on 

 the commencement of the present month. It is said that much of the wheat land 

 will fall short of its usual quantity of manure during the present seed season, and 

 that a considerable number oi acres must be sown entirely without that aid ; the 

 weather of the late winter and spring having been most unfavourable for the col- 

 lection and preservation of manure. Wheat has already suffered a considerable 

 decline of price, as will appear in the market accounts. 



The ffesh meat markets of the metropolis and of most large towns, are amply 

 supplied, and prices well supported. Of store stock also, particularly sheep and 



Eigs, there seems no present prospect of a decline in the price. The sale of wool is 

 eavy, and the price, for the most part, below that of last, year. Timber and bark 

 have been for a considerable time gnvliully declining articles. Of hops they speak 

 more favourably tlir.n in the last report, many of the plantations in Kent, Sussex, 

 and \Vorcestershire having improved from changes of the weather. In the grazing 

 districts the grasses are said to have supported the greatest quantity of stock of 

 any year within memory. They have been greatly refreshed by the late showers, 

 and the second crops of clover and other artificial grasses promise abundance. As 

 to seeds generally, the present will not be a very productive year, their grass being 

 so large and luxuriant. The crop of apples is reported superior to our former 

 expectations. 



The Dead Markets, by the carcase, per stone of 8 Ibs. Beef, 2s. to 3s. 8d. Mut- 

 ton, 2s. 2d. to 4s. Lamb, 3s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. Veal, 2s. 6d. to 5s. Pork, 3s. to 5s 

 Dairy, 5s. 4rf. 



Game. Grouse 7*'' a brace. Leverets 3s. to 3s. Qd. each, plenty. 



Corn Exchange. Wheat 42s. to 62s. Barley, 30s. to 37s Oats, 16s. to 25s. 



London Loaf of 4 Ibs. Wd. Hay, 35s. to, 85s Clover, ditto, 65s. to 115s. Straw, 

 26s. to 45s. 



Cola Exchange. Coals in the Pool, 15s. Gd. to 21s. per ton. 

 Middlesex, July 27. 



1 



