AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 367 



frost was more continuous and effective, enabling the cultivators of strong 

 lands to put them into the best state of tilth. We have even heard from 

 some parts of Sussex, that the whole season has been most auspicious and 

 favourable for tillage; but our old recollections do not furnish us with any 

 evidence of the general dry state of the lands in that county, where, many 

 years since, we rode nearly up to our saddle skirts in mud, though upon a 

 hack fifteen hands and a half high, directly opposite the parish church of 

 Ruspen. There seems, at this moment, no indication of a favourable change 

 of weather ; whence it results that a considerable extent of heavy land must 

 be sown upon an imperfect tilth, or its semination be protracted and late. A 

 large breadth of beans and peas, Tartarian and other oats was sown early 

 in the month, and the general business of the season is now proceeding, 

 where practicable, with "all possible despatch. Letters from Ireland speak 

 very favourably of the state of the lands for spring tillage, of the wheat crop, 

 and of the green and luxuriant state of their pastures. 



As to the growing autumnal crops the golden crop, WHEAT, seems to 

 give universal satisfaction. The shades of difference between the early and 

 the late sown are no longer attended to ; but the general description is that 

 of a most luxuriant and promising, as well as of a most extensive whole. 

 We observed last month that, notwithstanding the favourable nature of the 

 season to such a character, the wheat was, in comparatively few instances, 

 winter-proud, or too rank and thick ; a quality which, in some seasons, has 

 contributed too much to the produce of straw to leave strength sufficient in 

 the root for the production of an exuberant grain crop. Fortunately, the 

 wheat is held to be thick enough upon the ground to give every advantage to 

 the production of grain, dependant upon the favourable state of the coming 

 seasons. The old farmers are calling out for a cold and dry spring, and a 

 hot and dry summer, under which dispensation, we agree that, generally, 

 the largest crops of wheat in this country have been produced ; but such a 

 rule has not been made absolute. In those dry and difficult seasons we have 

 periodically seen light land farmers without a blade of grass to sustain their 

 starving animals, yet who could never subsequently be persuaded to cultivate 

 lucerne, which defies all drought. 



Tares and all other autumnal crops exhibit a most promising appearance. 

 Turnips hold out equal to the most sanguine expectations upon dry and 

 proper soils ; on the wet and unfavourable the root is found exhausted, 

 whilst the tops have run up to flowering. The stock of hay is every where 

 so great, that should the next crop also prove abundant, old hay will be un- 

 saleable. The quality of beans has been much improved by keeping, but the 

 crop being large, and markets of late plentifully supplied, they have all the 

 appearance of a declining article ; not so of peas, the crop of which was more 

 valuable for quality than acreable quantity. The clovers, broad, Dutch and 

 hop- clover, yielded well last season, the last most remarkably so. 



Hops have at length rallied, and are in demand ; but the want of money 

 has so cleared off the stocks in most parts of the country, that little remains 

 to take the benefit of a probable advance in price. The general low prices of 

 produce, compared with the expences of culture and of taxation, are described, 

 in many letters from the country, as ' distracting.' It is said to be nearly 

 certain, that great numbers of farmers, in the western poor land districts 

 especially, must be sold up by next Michaelmas. Among too many of them, 

 their whole property has gradually ebbed out, whilst they are, besides, 

 deeply in debt. Their melancholy case must go near the heart of every man 

 of feeling. 



The import of wheat having ceased about harvest time, (and we have since 

 been rather an exporting country,) markets improved to the extent of 5s. per 

 quarter ; but the want of money for the usual Christmas demand, brought 

 such supplies of grain to market, as, with the assistance of considerable 



