AGRICULTURAL REPORT. Ill 



The appearance of the wheats is eminently satisfactory, since on good and 

 highly productive soils they have a most luxuriant and healthy appearance, 

 wearing a fine burnish of deep green, without the instances being many of 

 the danger of their outrunning and exhausting the roots, in the well known 

 common phrase of winter pride ; and with respect to the crops on inferior 

 impoverished or improper sorts, they generally do not disgrace their mother 

 earth, since they exhibit a promise of full as much success as could be 

 rationally and practically expected fromthem. As to the condition of the 

 lands, rich or poor in their nature, we repeat, for we know not how many 

 times, that it is (shall we say generally r) in so foul and unworkmanlike 

 a state as to reflect foul disgrace on the agriculture of Britain. Such is our 

 intelligence from so many parts of the country, that we can entertain no 

 doubt that the whole is in too great a degree unfortunately implicated. But 

 we will adduce an evidence to the fact, who from high character for ability 

 and practical experience, must be received as altogether unexceptionable. 

 This gentleman writes thus from Berks : " The backward sown wheats and 

 vetches have grown surprisingly, and should the winter not be too severe, 

 the late sown will be better than that which was sown so early ; and more 

 especially if there should not be frost to kill the weeds ; for some of the 

 early sown wheat is so exceedingly full of charlock and poppy, and other 

 weeds, that in the spring it will nearly choke up the wheat; and if at- 

 tempted to be got out it will be a vast expense, as well as a great injury to 

 the growing crops." In fact, it is probably not too much to assert that the 

 damage done to a broad-cast crop by a thorough spring-weeding, is pro- 

 bable to equal that to be expected from the presence of the weeds. All the 

 winter crops, equally with the wheat, exhibit a healthful and luxuriant ap- 

 pearance, giving the best possible proof that the last or autumnal season has 

 agreed perfectly well with them. The old report is fully confirmed with 

 regard to turnips, mangel-wurtzel and potatoes. These crops have generally 

 failed. The turnips are thin on the land, light and small in size, and that 

 which is indeed an uncommon occurrence the Swedes have succeeded best, 

 both as to size and substance. The mangel is described not only as a lost 

 crop, but as an article getting out of repute in the country ; on this point 

 then, the opinion of the London cowkeepers is at issue with that of the 

 country feeders, since the former assert that mangel wurtzel is the best cow 

 food, most productive of milk, and of milk that will keep longest in the 

 dog-days, that has ever been introduced into England. The autumnal grass 

 has proved an excellent and lasting crop, and it is said of more substance 

 and power of nutrition than usual at this season ; since, notwithstanding the 

 showery weather we have had, the lands have been by no means inordi- 

 nately sodden and impoverished. Thus the short crop of hay has been most 

 profitably spared, the stock finding even to the present time plenty of keep 

 abroad. When this supply shall become exhausted, an event to be daily 

 looked for, hay, however short in quantity and valuable, must come into 

 request, yet obviously with the need of all possible economy ; as one mode 

 of which may be recommended Mr. Laurence's old method of stacking oat 

 straw and hay in alternate layers. The lands generally are said to be either 

 laid up in sufficient forwardness, or fallowing at present for the operations 

 of spring. 



Of live stock, sheep and mutton have certainly not escaped that exorbi- 

 tancy of price which was apprehended in the breaking out and continuance 

 of the rot, yet prices are no doubt sufficiently high ; but should we be so 

 fortunate as to escape a return, of the rot, two more lambing seasons will 

 recruit our stock. Beef has been of moderate price, our times considered, 

 for the Christmas markets, and much of it of real fine quality. Pork, at 

 least the best of it, in the London markets, maintains a high figure in price, 

 considering the vast depression of the pig markets in the country, conse- 



