AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 73 



ensuing Anniversary Meeting, in 1835, will be held at Oxford, under the presidency 

 of Dr. Kidd, Regius Professor of Medicine in that University. Dr. Pritchard, of 

 Bristol, the learned author of a work upon the Natural History of Man, was 

 appointed to deliver the address ; Dr. Maiden and Dr. Streeten, of Worcester, to 

 make a Report upon the Physiology of Alimentation ; Dr. Booth and Dr. Evans, 

 of Birmingham, upon the Pathology of Dropsy ; and Dr. ConoUy, of Warwick, 

 and Mr. Hetling, of Bristol, on the Rise and Progress of Provincial Medical 

 Schools. These are subjects of great interest, and important results may confi- 

 dently be anticipated. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



However ardently we may endeavour to gain an insight into the more 

 occult processes of nature as presented to our notice in the animal, vegetable, 

 and mineral kingdoms, and which is a never-failing source of rational amuse- 

 ment, still we cannot be indifferent to those grander results produced by natural 

 causes assisted by human skill and industry, on " nature's ample lap." The 

 annual returns from our fields and pastures, from our gardens and orchards, 

 and from our rivers, mines, and the ocean which surrounds our favoured isle, 

 constitute our real national income and wealth, and " the only wealth," as 

 Dr. Johnson observes, " we can call our own ;" and whence flows directly or 

 indirectly all individual comforts and happiness. 



In taking a survey of the agriculture of the kingdom, we may observe that 

 the past season as affecting vegetation has been extraordinary, no frost even 

 in the depth of winter; of course vegetation was unusually forward in the 

 early spring ; and except a few night frosts during April and May, nothing like 

 winterly weather has been felt. These frosts, slight as they were, however, 

 happened at a critical time, just as the early flowering fruit-trees (pears and 

 plums) were in bloom, and when the first shoots of the meadow grasses were 

 coming forth. Both these products suffered ; the first were cut off, and the 

 second completely checked ; so that we have but few of these kinds of fruit, 

 and very short crops of hay. The dry weather of May and June, accompanied 

 by harsh easterly winds, checked the spring-sowed corn, and from which 

 many fields of barley and oats have not entirely recovered. Most parts of the 

 country have lately been visited by refreshing showers, which have greatly 

 benefitted the field crops ; and though they fell too late for the hay, will secure 

 good second crops of clover, and a full bite of a|^tumn pasturage. 



Except some failures in the north-western parts of the kingdom, the wheat 

 in general is looking well ; and if this present month (July) continue dry and 

 warm, something approaching an average crop may be expected ; and much of 

 it in the southern counties will be ready for the reapers before the end. In 

 many places rye and peas are already cut, and in one instance a field of barley 

 is down. 



Both the metropolitan and provincial corn markets are on the decline, 

 owing no doubt to there being a better prospect of the growing crops than 

 there was a month back; and also to the*fortunate circumstance, that there is 

 still wheat in the hands of some few farmers, besides an ample stock of the 

 same in bond. Every where the markets are well supplied ; and lit would be 

 well for the sellers did they receive remunerating prices : but from some cause 

 or other this is certainly not the case ; wheat is actually at the present time 

 the cheapest grain at market, comparing weight and prime cost respectively : 

 a circumstance unknown before. The following are the imperial average 

 prices of grain on the 27th ult : — wheat 49*. 6d., barley 29*., oats 23*. Ik/., 

 rye 32*. 9^., beans 37*. 8rf., and peas 43*. l\d. per quarter. Best Hour in 

 London from 43*. to 47*. per sack of 280 pounds. Best bread from 7d, to 8rf. : 

 household 6d. per loaf of 4 pounds. Malt new from 37*. to 47*. ; best Hert- 

 fordshire from 52*. to 58*. per quarter, and trade dull. 



Butcher's meat of the best quality in the London markets may be purchased 

 from the salesmen at — viz. beef from 3*. Sd. to 4*. 6d., mutton from 3*. 6rf. to 

 4*., veal from 2*. Sd. to 4*. 6V/., pork from 2*. Sd. to 4*. 6d., and lamb from 

 3*. lOd. to 5*. per stone of 8 pounds, sinking offals. 



NO. I. L 



