AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



buted to the restoration of the health of men and animals, lately in such immi- 

 nent peril, and the sudden improvement in the appearance and condition of all 

 the productions of the soil, is most wonderful and delightful to behold, afford- 

 ing us the grateful and enlivening prospectof a generally plentiful season, which, 

 unfortunately, has been a stranger in our country during some years past. 

 The heats have been, for the most part great, notwithstanding the wind 

 has been so constant to the cold quarters, and some of the heavy, wet clay 

 lands began to be parched, until they were relieved and improved by the 

 soaking showers of the 19th instant. At the commencement of the month, 

 every production was backward corn, grasses, and fruits ; even the earliest 

 sown spring crops were but ju8t appearing above ground ; much also of the 

 labours of the field were in arrear: in short, the present has been held the 

 latest season since 1782, and, according to our recollection, with truth. We 

 have often given our opinion in favour of early sowing of the Lent crops ; 

 but the present season has afforded a palpable objection to that general rule 

 at any rate, with regard to clays and heavy wet lands, and perhaps to all 

 poor soils in which, during a co'ld and ungenial spring, the seed may lie to 

 rot and perish. In such seasons, taking the late for an eminent example, 

 farmers, who possess sufficient strength in men and cattle to make sudden 

 expeditions and effective exertions, had better await that favourable change 

 which a late season may offer. The unspeakable advantage will so be 

 obtained of putting the seed into the ground under a good tilth, and the 

 increased solar influence will have the effect of pushing forward vegetation 

 with a rapidity which will render ample amends for previous loss of time. 

 According to our observations, this plan of late sowing, if it have any 

 deteriorating effect on the produce, it consists rather in the quality than in 

 the bulk. 



The wheats, our paramount object, have made the most rapid advance 

 conceivable during the nearly three weeks of favourable weather. They have 

 exchanged the russet brown and yellow hue and rough surface which they 

 wore in April, for a most beautiful, deep, glossy, smooth and shining green ; 

 and should warm and seasonable weather continue, and the blooming pro- 

 cess be got over fortunately, there need be little doubt of a full average crop ; 

 and it may be remembered that the quantity of land sown with wheat is 

 very great, perhaps greater than in any previous year. Such has been the 

 sudden advance of the wheats on our best lands during the present warmth, 

 and so great their luxuriance, that we should describe those we have seen as 

 spring -proud, were there such a term in use. Gracious heaven! what an- 

 immense difference would subsist in the quantity of this staff of life, were 

 our lands free from the exhausting burden of weeds of every description, 

 which constantly choaks them, and were they in that state of garden-cleanness 

 which their so infinitely superior consequence demands. Spade of Jethro 

 Tull, what wouldst thou say to our, in this respect, disgraceful practice of 

 husbandry, couldstthou revisit mother earth ? Too great a portion of the lands 

 are eaten up with couch, which, with dock and thistles, maintains an emulous 

 struggle against the corn for subsistence and superiority. In those districts 

 where charlock prevails, women have been employed, but little benefit can 

 be thence expected upon broad-cast crops. We remember, many years 

 since, speaking to some women and boys who were weeding, but appeared to 

 pass over the charlock ; on asking the reason, the answer was, " Oh, we 

 never meddle with that, because it always will come in this country." The 

 wheats, even upon cold, damp, unfertile lands, appear tolerably thick 

 upon the ground, and to promise full as much as we can rationally expect 

 from them. 



Barley and oats appear generally promising, especially the latter ; so 

 much, however, cannot be said of the barleys upon wet, heavy or clay soils, 

 on which indeed that crop should seldom be risked. Beans and pease look 



