AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 343 



Miss Pardoe is preparing a new edition of her " Traits and Traditions of 

 Portugal." 



Sir Egerton Brydges' new biographical work, on an original plan, has just 

 appeared, entitled " Imaginative Biography." 



A work on flowers will appear on the 1st of March, entitled " The Language 

 of flowers," with plates, coloured after nature. 



Mr. Lodge's " Peerage," a new edition for 1834. 



The author of " Hampden in the Nineteenth Century," has in the press a 

 pamphlet, entitled " The Critics Criticised." 



AGRICULTURAL RERORT. 



COMPARED with the last two, and in the moist climate of South Wales 

 the last three, the present has fortunately proved a dry month ; not how- 

 ever sufficiently so, for our heavy lands which are even yet in a state ren- 

 dering it impossible to work them to any very hopeful purpose. In fact, 

 many farmers of such soils, eager to get forward after so long a delay, have 

 trusted the seed to sodden earth most inauspiciously ; for though the old 

 and lately prevailing opinion, in favour of early sowing generally, be ra- 

 tional and well grounded, a fit state of the soil for the operation must be 

 pre-supposed; we have ever found that, in such seasons, delay is to be 

 be preferred to over waste. In all low and moist parts of the island, very 

 considerable damage has been suffered from the floods and storms of wind. 

 Our light and sandy soils have escaped the greater part of this misfor- 

 tune, as not requiring so early and much labour, and being in a state to 

 receive the earliest culture. In the most exposed situations, considerable 

 breadth of land prepared for wheat, could not be sown in the regular 

 season, nor has she been in a fit state since, for the reception of wheat 

 seed. 



The few days lately past have been most encouraging for drying the 

 soil and preparing it for cultivation ; indeed, in the last week or two there 

 has been some improvement in those which preceded them, and this good 

 has been eagerly taken advantage of by the farmers ; but making the best 

 use of it, we must have a late seed season for the heavy lands, and that 

 which is worse and worse still, as exceeding former years, the seed will 

 almost be universally be committed to land choked up with weeds arid 

 and rubbish of every description. We remarked in our last that, the 

 wheats generally had during this season, escaped that prematurity com- 

 monly styled winter pirch ; but we have no longer that boast to make, 

 for the extreme mildness of the weather since has caused them to make 

 such powerful shoots as to clothe those on fine and forward lands most 

 particularly with the luxuriance and verdure of April, for green goose- 

 berries graced the table in various parts of England in the last week of 

 January. Certainly, few such seasons as the present are in recollection. 



We are all well aware, but unable to remedy the lamentable impending 

 consequence, should spring prove cold and ungenial. There has, however, 

 been no complaints generally of the appearance of the wheats, the lands 

 being sufficiently full of plants and those strong and healthy. Bean setting- 

 and so win peas, our earliest seed crops, have been going on briskly, so 

 soon as the weather permitted and in a favourable year ought to be 

 finished in February. Oats and barley follow, with seeds and the other 

 early spring crops ; indeed, it is said that, in every part of the country, 

 thereis a greater appearance of activity and expedition, than has been 

 witnessed for years, the late parliamentary engagement of Minister to let 

 well alone, filling the minds of farmers with a cheerful confidence. It will 



