AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



whether it may be the mere consequence of local custom and prejudice ; in some 

 parts, no doubt of such consequence, nevertheless, the above causes must 

 necessarily have their natural and proportionate effects, and on the whole, 

 granting any error of practice in the case; it probably resides with those who 

 sow too late : in fine, late semination seldom succeeds, and it may be safely ruled 

 that, such should never be practised but on the necessity of the case. The lands 

 have been generally in sufficient forwardness for this important process ; but the 

 weather in either extreme, has once more presented an obstacle to exertion. The 

 continued drought rendered it impracticable to proceed on the light and dry 

 lands, whilst the farmers of heavy and moist soils, their moisture also increased 

 by the thick night fogs usually attendant upon drought by day, were enabled to 

 persevere without hinderance, in the business of the season. The light land 

 farmers have been subsequently relieved by several days rain, of which it is to 

 hoped they made an industrious use, as the drought has since recurred, occa- 

 sioning a defect of herbage on the stubbles, and making the pastures quite bare, 

 except on the most fertile gramineous soils. The capriciousness of grass seeds also 

 in the choice of soils is a well known and curious fact, and further, the different 

 quality and even colour of the grasses upon different soils, there being a reddish 

 tint observable on the verdure of the grass upon poor lands, particularly in the 

 south western counties. The weather permitting, wheat sowing will be finished 

 throughout, in the course of next month ; to be shortly after succeeded by the 

 Christmas agricultural vacation, when we heartily wish our farmers a merrier 

 Christmas than they have enjoyed for several years past. As high as 70s. per 

 quarter has been given for seed wheat. 



As the quantity and quality of the different crops, we have to add to our last 

 report, and we have yet no reason to repent of our early caution in respect to 

 more magnificent accounts of our this year's crops, of wheat more especially. 

 These exaggerations prevail now, in very few quarters. The wheat crop is 

 supposed to have been most successful in Scotland, and perhaps half a dozen 

 counties in both the north and southern parts of England ; in those, it is deemed 

 above an average, quantity and quality, the highest weights reaching upwards of 

 64 Ib. the imperial bushel ; we have, however, formerly weighed 65 Ibs. clear of 

 the sack from the old eight gallon bushel. In these fortunate districts, the 

 greater part of the wheat was secured previously to the advent of the ominous 

 ten days. Yet, even had those remnants not to be saved from the adverse effects 

 of those days so seriously inimical both to individual and national interests. In 

 no part of our island are the farmers so thoroughly satisfied with their crops, 

 more especially, the most valuable, than even in Scotland, and in the wholesale 

 view of quantity and quality, both of corn and straw, and freedom from their 

 late famous real or supposed enemy, the FLY. In the quality of barley, they 

 pretend to rival us, their southern countrymen, both for weight and brightness, 

 exhibiting a new sample of the weight of 56 Ibs. per bushel. The union has done 

 wonders for Scotland ; in that respect, we must not be O'Connellized in Ireland. It 

 ought to form a grave consideration for our farmers and labourers, by what 

 means, the farmers in the north have been more successful than ours, and the 

 latter more moral and contented. To finish with wheat it is generally held 

 that, among the earliest and most fortunate farmers, two thirds, or nearly, have 

 been secured in the most perfect state. With the opposite and most unfortunate 

 class, their wheat crop tells nearly even in quantity, between the best and the 

 worst. Not being, at this time, in a controversial temper, we elicit with a 

 degree of hesitation the following remark ; there are immense breadths of land in 

 this country, which, allowing for seed, do not produce more common average than 

 12 to 14 bushels of wheat per acre, and that invariably of an inferior quality. 

 What a cheering encouragement, in our days, for the cultivation of wastes. 

 Our import of wheat and seeds has been immense, and of late, our export con- 

 siderable ; consolatory the latter, as far as it goes. It is a branch of commerce 

 to be pushed and encouraged. The culture of seeds in England, seems about to 

 receive a finishing stroke from the regular large importations, and bark is greatly 

 reduced in price from the same cause. In Ireland the opinion is general and 

 decisive, against the supposition of an unprecedently large wheat crop. Our 



