m 



THE t-ARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



organizatioa of this sort, ftud, consequently, though multi- 

 tudes felt indignant, no united movement was made. Let 

 us then learn wisdom by experience. Others will say, " Yours 

 is a good cause, the continuance of the malt tax is a great 

 shame, but I don't believe you'll succeed." — Answer : If we 

 all said so, certainly nothing would be done ; and if others 

 had said the sawe there would have been no Reform Bill in 

 1832, no free trade in 1846. Would it not be a course more 

 manly and more worthy of respect to say, Is the cause good ? 



if it is, it shall not suffer for want of my help. Gentlemen, 

 we entreat you to remember that if we would succeed we 

 must not only wish the cause well, but each one must help a 

 little. According to the old saying, it must be " a long pull, 

 a strong pull, and a pull all together," If each one of you is 

 witling to do his pact, success is certain. 



P.S.— The secretary, Mr. R. L. Everett, of Rushmere, 

 Ipswich, will be glad to answer any inquiry, or to receive any 

 communication relative to the subject. 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR AUGUST. 



At no period since 1816 has so much excitement prevailed 

 in agricultural, as svell as commercial circles, as regards the 

 ultimate fate of the crops, as since we last wrote. The long 

 continuance of unfavourable weather and the extensive 

 backward state of the wheats, added to prospects of a defi- 

 cient yield, have, as might be expected, been the all-absorb- 

 ing topic of serious consideration. The agricultural body 

 have looked forward to results of a most grave character ; 

 the monetary classes have been daily preparing for a higher 

 range in the value of money, and, in not a few instances, for 

 a grand crash from an enormous export of gold to pay for 

 foreign corn to meet our necessities. In all parts of the 

 country, as well as through the Continent, there has been 

 a considerable advance in the value of all kinds of produce, 

 and the movement in foreign food has been unusually large. 

 Fortunately for the consumers, the importations have been 

 on a large scale ; and those importations will, no doubt, 

 continue so during the remainder of the year. Not that we 

 labour under the impression that we shall have famine 

 prices, or that the whole of our crop will be lost, owing to 

 the unseasonable weather, but it becomes necessary to re- 

 gard with some degree of anxiety what is passing elsewhere. 

 The crop of wheat produced in the United States this year 

 is generally admitted to be a large one, and of very superior 

 quality; hence, shipments to England have been commenced 

 on a very large scale, so large, indeed, that it is now a 

 matter of difficulty to find freight room for the present out- 

 flow. In the southern parts of Europe the crops are turning 

 out well, but in the northern a reverse state of things pre- 

 vails. So backward are the crops, that the French Govern- 

 ment have found it necessary to suspend the sliding scale 

 upon imports, and relieve from tonnage dues all vessels 

 bringing produce into the various ports, until September, 

 1861. This change in the system, however, refers to imports 

 only, so that exports are only permitted under the sliding 

 scale. It follows, therefore, that France is likely to become 

 a powerful competitor for food in the large grain markets of 

 the world, and that prices, consequently, are likely to rule 

 high during the remainder of the year, even though our own 

 harvest may, after all, turn out moderately abundant. This 

 however is the highest estimate we can place upon it ; but 

 there are one or two features which require special remark. 

 Had the wheats ripened as early as in 1859, nearly 

 the whole of them must have sprouted ere this; but, 

 happily, we have a very backward harvest, and its 

 extreme backwardness has, to some extent, prevented 

 a more serious state of things than would otherwise 

 have been the case. Sprouted and diseased wheats are, it is 

 true, to be met with in most localities ; but we are of opinion 

 that the damage thus sustained by the crop is not general. 

 This is certainly a redeeming feature; but who will say that 

 even now fully one-third of the entire growth may not be 

 sacrificed, from the want of fine weather to secure it ? The 

 last few days of the month were indicative of a return of a 

 more seasonable temperature, but the numerous changes in it 

 have sadly perplexed all connected with the soil. Admitting 

 that the aggregate yield of wheat will be about one-fifth less 

 than in 1859— assuming that it is stacked in moderate con- 

 dition, although as yet very little has reached the stackyards 

 —It IS evident that for some time we shall have strong prices, 

 even with a heavy importation from abroad. Another feature 

 considerably agamst the crop being stacked in anything like 



moderate condition, with numerous changes in the weather, 

 is the enormous growth of weeds even on the best lands. 

 This growth must necessitate the shocks being kept longer in 

 the fields than usual ; hence, we apprehend that, with very 

 few exceptions, the wheats will be carted in a damp state, and 

 that consequently we shall have wretchedly poor samples oa 

 offer in the various markets for a considerable period. la 

 reference to spring corn, we may observe that a great differ- 

 ence of opinion prevails on the subject of yield and condition. 

 Even in some of our best districts barley is still wholly unfit 

 for the sickle, and the same remark may be applied to oats : 

 whilst it is pretty generally admitted that the prospects of 

 those crops are very poor ones. It follows, therefore, that 

 prices are likely to rule very high, especially for fine parcels, 

 and that consumption must be chiefly met by importations 

 from abroad. Beans and peas, however, are the largest crop 

 ever known ; but their quality must of necessity turn out 

 inferior, from long exposure in the fields. In some counties 

 peas have now remained ou the ground for nearly five weeks. 



The stocks of wheat in the hands of the growers are now 

 greatly reduced ; but on the Continent they appear to be 

 seasonably good. Whilst, therefore, we are in a position to 

 draw upon foreign resources, we are not likely to suffer from 

 famine prices ; nevertheless, a further continuance of wet must 

 have the effect of advancing the quotations considerably beyond 

 their present level. 



In Ireland, the same state of weather has prevailed as in 

 England ; consequently, very little grain has, as yet, been 

 saved. Our Scotch letters, however, state that much less 

 rain has fallen there ; that wheat, barley, and oats have been 

 carried ; but that, of course, large quantities of grain are still 

 in the fields — the bulk, in fact, of the entire crop. Appa- 

 rently, Scotland is suffering less severely from an unseasonable 

 temperature than the farmers of England. 



We regret to state that most unfavourable accounts have 

 come to hand respecting the potato crop. Some persons con- 

 tend that fully two-thirds of the entire growth have been lost 

 by disease ; but we have every reason to believe that many 

 of the accounts are overcharged ; nevertheless, there is no doubt 

 whatever but that we shall be able to secure smaller quantities 

 than in 1859. This loss of food must [of necessity operate 

 upon the value of wheat, both here and on the Continent. 



At one period, both hay and straw were selling at very high 

 prices. They have since become more moderate ; but we never 

 recollect a season during which hay has remained so long in 

 the fields as during the present, or during which the crop was 

 stacked in such poor condition. There is a great abundance 

 of it; but the bulk of the supply must remain some time in 

 stack ere it can become a saleable commodity. 



The great abundance of pasture herbage has added con- 

 siderably to the weight and condition of fat stock, the supplies 

 of which ou offer in the various markets have increased to some 

 extent. Prices have had a drooping tendency ; nevertheless, 

 they still rule high, and, consequently, in favour of large im- 

 portations from abroad. 



The Colonial wool sales have been brought to a close under 

 favourable auspices. During their progress nearly 90,000 bales 

 were disposed of, at prices fully equal to those current in the 

 previous series. English wool, though in good supply, still 

 commands full quotations. 



The fruit crop has turned out very abundant, and, on the 

 whole, of good quality. The importations have been com- 



