THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



461 



of severe frosts, and are of more early renovation after winter 

 than on lands cultivated fleetly by horses and the common 

 plough. An exemplification of this truth was noticed par- 

 ticularly in a field of mine quite by chance about thirty years 

 ago, when a very severe frost occurred in Suffolk on the night 

 of the 29th of May, such an one as I never before or after 

 witnessed so late, cutting-off and blackening all the nettles 

 by roadsides, and many of the potatoes and French beans in 

 gardens after they were moulded up, and nearly all in the fields 

 which were growing under shallow cultivation. All crops 

 that year were very forward, and I had about an acre of dwarf 

 French beans in full splendour; but the whole were com- 

 pletely blackened and destroyed on that memorable night, 

 with the exception of one solitary spot fully exposed, of only 

 a few yards square, which to my own and ray neighbours' sur- 

 prise were not at all injured by the frost. 



This curious circumstance induced me to ascertain the 

 cause by a research, imagining it attributable to something 

 subterranean. To my surprise and delight, at about two 

 spades deep was deposited a hidden treasure of several thou- 

 sands of new tiles, which had evidently been hidden there to 

 escape the eye of the excise officer, as the property had for- 



' merly been a brick-yard. I, and many others, concluded the 

 cause to be perfect drainage which prevented the frost and 

 spared the crop ; but experience since, in similar matters, has 

 proved the contrary, and that it was not so much percolation 

 or drainage, but its receptive powers cf all ttraosphetic mois- 

 ture and quick aiiration or evaporation afterwards, as this very 

 spot, from its loose subsoil, was subjected to the absorp- 



I tion of all the rains and snow falling upon it, and its being 

 without drains to carry tff excessive moisture. 



Mau\' similar circumstances have attracted my notice since, 

 fully corroborating deep cultivation to be of much greater con- 

 sequence to obtain superior and enhanced produce of the soil, 

 than all the draining which ever was or ever will be performed 

 on ordinary soils, except on those which have been hitherto 

 drained, where those old drains are often bursting and over- 

 flowing, and which must necessarily be redrained, or the 

 worst of cousequeuces may follow, and on such lands as are 

 naturally springy or of a hydropical character, and on a whole 

 are by far the least iu area in most localities. 



Abraham Hardy, 



Seedgrower, &c. 

 Maldon, Essex, 



AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR APRIL, 



The unusually cold weather experienced during nearly the 

 whole of the mouth has retarded the progress of vegetation 

 throughout the Kingdom, and the extreme backwardness of 

 the season has given rise to serious apprehensions in maoy 

 quarters in reference to the fate of our live stock. Already 

 hay — the consumption of which is very large — has risen con- 

 siderably in price, and the bulk of last year's growth has been 

 consumed in the grazing districts. Both beasts and sheep 

 have ruled high in price, and the progress of feeding has been 

 a most expensive and unsatisfactory one. As regards the ap- 

 pearance of the wheat crop, we may observe that it is anything 

 but favourable. It would, however, be premature to hazard 

 any positive opinion in reference to the forthcoming crop from 

 the present backward state of the plant, which, otherwise, 

 does not exhibit an unfavourable appearance. The sowing of 

 Lent corn has been pretty generally concluded, but at a much 

 later period than usual, owing to the saturated condition of 

 the soil. 



The wheat trade has been considerably firmer than for many 

 months past, and an advance of from Ss. to 5s. per quarter has 

 taken place in the quotations. The comparative activity in 

 the demand has resulted more from a demand having sprung 

 up at Mark-lane for consumption in Ireland than from any 

 other cause. The quantity of wheat, wholly English, taken 

 for that country has not exceeded 1,000 quarters; never- 

 theless, the purchases have been sufficiently large to give an 

 improved tone to the market, although it is presumed that 

 they have been effected solely for speculative purposes, and ia 

 order to enhance the value of some heavy stocks held in Dub- 

 lin, Cork, &c., by wealthy houses. That the advance here re- 

 ferred to is likely to be supported, is pretty evident from the 

 present position of the trade. In most of the continental 

 markets, produce, generally, is commanding extreme rates — 

 there is next to nothing in progress of shipment from America 

 —-and the stocks of foreign grain in our warehouses are now 

 much reduced. No doubt, we shall shortly receive liberal 

 supplies from abroad ; but it may be well doubted whether 

 they will be sufficiently extensive to have any depressing in- 

 fluence upon present quotations. There has been considerable 

 firmness iu the inquiry for all descriptions of spring com, es- 



pecially for fine barley and oats, at extreme rates ; but, with 

 the exception of wheat, the fluctuations in grain have been 

 trifling. English wheat is still held in fair average abundance ; 

 but the supplies of all other articles have become very limited. 

 We shall, therefore, be chiefly dependent upon the foreign 

 growers for arrivals of spring corn during the remainder of the 

 season. 



The late advance iu the value of money in the dis- 

 count market has had considerable influence upon the 

 wool trade. At the public sales of colouial held at 

 Liverpool prices have given way 2d. per lb., and in the 

 metropolis English qualities have given way O^d. per lb. 

 Manufacturers, generally, complain that they are unable to 

 obtain prices for their woollens corresponding to the present 

 high value of the raw material ; hence they have for some 

 time past purchased for immediate use only. This state of 

 things, and the limited state of the export demand, together 

 with the announcement that over 72,000 bales will be offered 

 at the next series of wool sales appointed to commence on the 

 3rd of May, induce the opinion in many quarters — especially 

 as the quotations have given way in Australia — that prices 

 have seen their highest range. The efforts made for some 

 time past to establish colonial wool sales both in France and 

 Holland — though, as yet, only partially successful— must of 

 necessity have some influence upon the demand. 



Notwithstanding that most unfavourable accounts have 

 from time to time reached us on the subject of the potato 

 disease, the arrivals of potatoes into Loudon, coastwise and by 

 land-carriage, have been seasonably good, and certainly iu im- 

 proved condition. Prices have ruled high, however, viz., from 

 803. to fully 1603. per ton ; but they are considerably beneath 

 those anticipated by the growers in the early part of the year. 

 On the Continent the stocks are much reduced ; still, a few 

 parcels have arrived in London and at the outporta from that 

 quarter. 



The demand for hay has been active, at enhanced quota- 

 tions. The best meadow has realized £5, the best clover £5 

 173. 6d., and the best straw £1 143. per load. Large supplies 

 of the former have been purchased in London for consumption 

 in the midland districts. 



The stocks of home-growu wheat, bailey, aad oats, both in 



