248 Agricultural Report. [FEB. 



potatoes, carrots, all the root crops, with some exceptions against mangold, have 

 proved abundant, almost beyond precedent. Of hops, nothing new ; the dull state 

 of the markets and absence of speculation, are sufficiently indicative of ample 

 stocks. 



Letters from that fine and rich corn county, Suffolk, are the best commentary on 

 the state of the last year's wheat and barley crops. On some soils, the produce not 

 exceeding five bushels per acre ; on many, not above twelve, the quantity and 

 quality much upon a level. The cost of thrashing, six and seven shillings per 

 quarter ; yet few persons, from the late intimidation, daring to use a thrashing- 

 machine, however great their want might be of pecuniary assistance from market, 

 where, in fact, the corn was scarcely saleable except at a very low price, as from its 

 damp state, it could not be ground unless mixed with dry foreign. The barley 

 crop, also, has not equalled early expectation ; but a small part of it being of fine 

 malting quality, and the difference of price most extraordinary. The pulse crops 

 much in the same state, and of those which have succeeded, the grain are uncom- 

 monly small. We formerly noticed Herts, as a favourable exception, yet we have 

 since heard of want of money in that quarter ; and we now announce RUTLAND as 

 perhaps having been blessed with the most abundant of last year's crops of all 

 Icinds in this country. "Wheat a full average, with little drawback as to quality. 

 The farmers are all amusing themselves with the horrors of the currency bill, and 

 the great import of foreign corn : with respect to the latter, in what a situation 

 would this country have been, without an ample foreign supply ! 



There is little novelty in the state or price of the cattle and sheep markets, none 

 in that of horses, the export of which has become a great and flourishing trade, in- 

 finitely to the credit of this as a breeding country. Markets and fairs generally 

 well stocked, and the Christmas beef was of a high figure, as well in quality as 

 price. The mild season and the immense turnip crops have wonderfully economized 

 the fodder of the home stall, and both sheep and cattle are even yet abroad. The 

 constant moisture however, both of the air and the food, have not been favourable 

 to the flocks, the fleeces of which have long remained soaked through with wet and 

 soiled with mud, even on lands not usually deemed unfavourable to sheep. The 

 early season of lambing in the west, is said to be propitious, with the drawback of 

 a premature yeaning, in rather a considerable number of the ewes. 



We have had lately a new edition of the Scotch wheat-fly, which, in its opera- 

 tions, appears to have little analogy with ours in England. The Scotts are equally 

 forward with ourselves in their husbandry ; barley of last year their best crop, as 

 oats with us; their labourers industrious and contented, and their lands well 

 stocked with cattle and sheep. The straw crops of wheat and barley have proved 

 more bulky in South Wales than elsewhere ; even yet a cheap country to live in. 

 Labourers' wages ten shillings per week, whilst in employ, which is too uncertain, 

 and many are then partly supported by their parishes, in order to keep them out 

 of mischief. Numbers of able-bodied men in nearly all our southern counties, are 

 anxious to emigrate to Canada, but are destitute of the means, a subject well en- 

 titled to the consideration of parliament. We were much gratified by the late 

 Circular on Emigration of the Colonial Office, for forwarding the passage of unmar- 

 ried females between fifteen and thirty, government bearing one half the expense. 



We have lately seen, with much regret, letters of the following tendency, from 

 several parts of the west : " Instead of advanced wages diminishing poor rates, 

 they are almost universally increasing here, by which it seems too probable that, 

 in a very short time, the whole produce of the land will be swallowed up by idle 

 vagabonds, most falsely and improperly characterized as industrious and merito- 

 rious poor. An advance of poor rates has been cotemporaneous with the advance 

 of wages, and a decline in the price of bread. In the mean time, discontent and 

 complaints are not abated, less work is done, with grumbling, for more wages, and 

 the really industrious labourer discouraged, and justly offended at seeing a profli- 

 gate and lazy rabble paid as much as himself." 



Smithfield.~Beef, 3s. 4d. to 4s. 4d Mutton, 4s. Od. to 5s. Od. Veal, 4s. 4d. to 



5s. 8d. Pork, 4s. 8d. to 5s. 8d. (dairy-fed) .Rough fat, 2s. lid. 



Corn Exchange. Wheat, 46s. to 80s. Barley, 25s. to 42s Oats, 16s. to 30s. 

 The London, 41b. loaf, 10d Hay, 55s. to 84s. Clover ditto, 75s. to 120s. Straw, 

 28s. to 38s. 



Coal Exchange Coals, in the Pool, per ton, 17s. Od. to 23s 6d. 

 Middlesex, January 23rd. 



