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AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



ON a retrospect of the past year, the seasons seem to have consisted of 

 alternate drought and deluges of rain ; of a constant setting of the wind in 

 the north-eastern and northern quarters, or of sudden alterations between 

 those and the south-western: the atmospheric changes, likewise, between 

 heat and cold, being in perfect unison. Thence the unfortunate effect on 

 human health. On the whole, however, easterly and northerly winds may 

 be said to have been most prevalent during a considerable length of time ; 

 that is to say, from the commencement of the late sickly seasons. Now, it 

 is characteristic and habitual with the atmosphere, for the wind having 

 blown for any great length of time from a particular quarter to change to 

 the nearly opposite quarter; where, as if by way of an atmospheric balance, 

 it continues during a considerable or nearly equal length of time : thus, the 

 change having arrived, the wind suddenly veered about to the southern and 

 western boards, where it has continued with considerable steadiness during 

 several weeks, bringing with it almost constant daily or nightly rains. In 

 the beginning of last month it was remarked in various quarters, with a de- 

 gree of surprise, how little damage the rains had occasioned, and in what a 

 small degree cultivation in general had been impeded ; but from what we 

 have seen within these few days, on going over considerable breadths of 

 strong and heavy land, we have no reason to congratulate ourselves on 

 the condition of such, or to expect that they will be very soon ready, 

 whether for cleaning, of which they stand miserably in need, or for 

 cultivation. 



The accounts from all low-land parts of the country, in consequence of 

 the deluges of rain which have fallen, are most melancholy ; the immediate 

 losses sustained, great ; and the effects which may be too probably ex- 

 pected of retarding and embarrassing the spring culture, must be highly 

 injurious to the interests of the farmer. Considerable damage has also been 

 sustained in the country from the hurricanes of wind which have so long 

 and frequently prevailed; but, as some degree of atonement for this mis- 

 fortune, it has generally been observed, that the constant high winds have 

 been extremely beneficial to the water-logged and sodden lands, by pro- 

 moting absorption. The accounts from Ireland, with its naturally moist 

 climate, are of an infinitely more disastrous complexion than those from our 

 own country ; detailing, indeed, scenes of havoc and destruction, from the 

 inclemency and unseasonableness of the weather, but too likely to entail 

 utter ruin on a great part of that already sufficiently oppressed and unfor- 

 tunate country. The thunder and lightning, in January ! on our own south- 

 ern coasts, have been terrific. 



The wheats, nevertheless, upon firm and good soils, where sheltered from 

 the storm, and not flooded or too much drenched with moisture, have a 

 healthy and promising aspect, as neither too rank and thick-set to be styled 

 winter-proud, nor the least defective in plant. Their colour, also, is 

 healthful and good ; and it is a disheartening reflection to augur on the 

 deplorable change which these now fine and promising crops may have to- 

 endure anon, from a cold spring and blighting summer season, the too usual 

 sequences of a mild and moist winter. But a truce to miserable anticipa- 

 tions ; for the farmer may well say, " sufficient unto the present day are 

 the evils thereof." As to our own stock of bread-corn, we have proved 

 that the crop of wheat of 1832 was a full average ; of the last crop, an 

 opinion worthy of dependence cannot yet be formed, since the vast quanti- 



