720 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



remarkably well ; but they are risk crops, and little can be predicted of them 

 with any degree of certainty until the eve of harvest. The clovers and 

 tares, or vetches, exceed our expectations ; and as to the meadows and all 

 grasses, they equal the promise of last year at the same period, affording the 

 prospect of an equal crop of hay. The hops have received signal benefit 

 from the change of weather, and the bines universally are growing very fast, 

 and wear a very healthy appearance. The insect has been observed in some 

 plantations, which might well be expected from the state of the weather pre- 

 vious to the change. A Rev. Gentleman has lately published a method for 

 preventing the ravages of the turnip-fly. We have often been amused by 

 similar pretensions. Now the turnip-fly must eat indeed would be egre- 

 giously foolish to starve in the midst of plenty and never did a certain state 

 of the atmosphere occur, nor ever can it occur, unaccompanied by the 

 appropriate number of turnip-flies ; and if we may venture to divulge our 

 plan, instead of making war upon turnip-flies' eggs, it should go to the pre- 

 vention of atmospheric blight during the turnip season, beyond a doubt an 

 equally feasible projection. All garden produce is in profusion ; fruit of all 

 kinds in high promise, the apple crop particularly, the buds being firmly knit, 

 and apparently out of danger. These favourable appearances have 

 reduced the price of cider, the general beverage of our south western dis- 

 tricts. Felling oaks commenced with the month. The timber never stripped 

 better, the bark of excellent quality : but the low price of timber, and still 

 lower of bark, will probably have the effect of a less extensive fall in the 

 present year than in the last ; these articles, as well as others, are affected by 

 extensive import, and in this case by the preference given to the foreign 

 article. The fallows for potatoes, mangel-wurtzel, and turnips, have been 

 highly improved by the late fine weather ; and the seed processes for those 

 are in full operation, with the encouragement of sanguine hopes. The re- 

 peated sowings of last season so exhausted the stock of fresh turnip seed, 

 that a too just apprehension of the tricks of trade leaves no doubt that old 

 and barren seed will be mixed with the good ; whence it behoves growers to 

 be very cautious as to those on whom they depend for a supply. 



Sheep of all descriptions, tegs, couples, sell readily, and at high prices. 

 The superior sorts of store cattle are perhaps somewhat reduced in price, the 

 graziers being stocked ; but barreners (cows) have lately sold well. Pigs 

 are somewhat lower. Good horses, as usual scarce, still maintain good, but 

 not the former very high prices, for which several reasons might be assigned. 

 The import of horses continues very considerable, confined indeed to the 

 slow and quick draught species. The Belgian cart-horses are said to have 

 some of the blood of the Old Suffolks, a rare breed, which we knew, and 

 which that great county should never have suffered to become extinct. The 

 last and good crop of wheat appears to have, in some measure, benefitted our 

 farmers, if we may judge from their rick-yards, which appear as well filled 

 as usual at this season ; but they are generally dissatisfied with the present 

 reforming and cautious Ministry, from their refusal to repeal the malt duty, 

 whilst the commercial party are in a similar state in regard to the assessed 

 taxes. 



The Dead Markets, by the carcase, per stone of 8lbs. Beef, 2s. 4d. to 

 3s. 8d. Mutton, 2s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. Lamb, 5s. 2d. to 6s. 8d. Veal, 3s. Od. to 

 4s. Id. Pork, 3s. 2d. to 5s. Od. dairy. 



Corn Exchange. Wheat, 42s. to 62s. Barley, 22s. to 32s. Oats, 14s. to 

 24s. London Loaf, 4lb., gd. Hay, 50s. to 78s. Clover ditto, 60s. to 100s. 

 Straw, 24s. to 33s. 



Coal Exchange. Coals in the Pool, 12s. 6d. to 20s. per ton. Delivered to 

 the consumer at an addition of^*r4^4^s. per ton. 



Middlesex, May 24. 



PRESENTED 



