712 Agricultural Report. [JUNE, 



the poppy has ever since continued a flourishing annual crop upon that farm, 

 though it has never been found in the garden. This, and certain other weeds, 

 peculiar to poor light soils, have probably abounded thereon, from their earliest date 

 of culture, and never can, or will be, eradicated by broad cast husbandry. Much 

 the same may be averred of the couch grass upon soils of another description. 



The lent com has also suffered generally from the blighting effects of the cold 

 winds and drought, waiting for recovery from a steady warm and seasonable tem- 

 perature. The barley and oats came up very irregularly, part lying dormant in the 

 soil for a greal length of time, a prey to birds and insects. Much of the lands in 

 this state will make crops of different growth at harvest, unless a highly genial and 

 beneficial temperature succeed. The barley, both early and late sown, has been 

 much injured by the wire-worm, and the peas by the slug. The breadth of barley 

 is not so extensive this year, as in the last, from the reduction of the price on ac- 

 count of the great quantity of molasses used in the distillery. Oats have become the 

 general substitute for barley. Beans, oats, and tares, are at present deemed the most 

 promising crops. Clover and all sown grasses, retarded by the ungenial tempera- 

 ture, yet promise to be highly productive on a favourable change. The clover being 

 kept back is held to be favourable, as it was very strong and forward, and otherwise 

 might have outgrown and exhausted itself, or have over-run and choked the barley 

 with which it was sown. We are, however, not greatly favourable to double crops, 

 viewing that system as one of the usual deceptions of the old established custom. 

 Comparative experiments are wanted. Of hops we, as yet, hear nothing. The 

 success of the fruit season is said to depend on the future state of the weather, 

 though it cannot have escaped a certain degree of injury ; and that important part 

 of it, the apple, is not spoken of in very flattering terms, in the cider countries, 

 where the latter blossoming fruits afford the greatest promise. The culture of 

 potatoes, as well in this country as in Scotland, will be much reduced in the present 

 season, from their late superabundance and unremunerating price. We noticed in 

 our last Report, the strange transition from abundance of winter grass to its equal 

 scarcity in the spring, there being since scarcely a bite for a sheep on May-day, 

 when shoep and cattle were wandering over the lands in a state of half-starvation, 

 in want of their chief support from dry food ; that also, so abundant in the early 

 months, nearly exhausted. The accounts from Bedfordshire and its vicinity, are 

 particularly distressing. Backing the oats is now going forward, and the price of 

 the article expected to advance. The culture of turnips, Swedes and common, with 

 the mangel-wurtzel, or field-beet, was completed early in the month, on the for- 

 wardest soil, and the uhole of the spring crops are in a fair way of an early comple- 

 tion on all. Little or nothing of novelty remains to be detailed concerning live stock. 

 As usual, the markets and fairs are well supplied, and things of the best quality 

 meet a ready sale, though at a price which the feeder universally declares does not 

 render them a sixpence of profit. Pigs, particularly small ones, have again 

 advanced, and in the bacon districts, large stores also are in much request, ft is 

 remarked, as usual, that tegs fetch a price equal to that of sheep a year older. 

 English wool is little quoted in the country, but in the metropolis, the foreign meets 

 a ready sale. Emigration is becoming a general resource ; but there is a complaint 

 in the country that the most steady and useful labourers migrate, leaving the pro- 

 fligate and useless at home. It is greatly extending also among the farmers, who 

 declare that they cannot live in their own country, and must leave it before the 

 remains of their property shall be absorbed in the general vortex of ruin. The 

 long standing aversion to the tithe system is getting to a great height in the coun- 

 try, and revision is loudly called for ; under which, it is confidently said, there 

 lurks a stronger and more pithy term, that of ABOLITION. 



Misprint in last Report for Sir Henry Hankey, read Sir Henry Bunbury. 

 Smithfield.Reef, 3s.2d.io3s. 10d. Mutton, 4s. 2d.to4s. Wd Lamb. 5s. 6d. 

 Veal, 4s. 5d. Pork, 4s. 2d., 5s. 2d., 55. Sd. Rough fat, 2s. Wd. 



Corn Exchange. Wheat, 485. to 74s Barley, 24s. to 36s. Oats, 15s. to 28s. 

 The London 4lb. loaf, Wd. Hay, 50s. to 95s. Clover ditto, 65s. to 120$. 

 Straw, 30s. to 39s. 



Coal Exchange. Cods, in the Pool, per ton, 14s to 2 Is. 



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