368 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



rage, varying from 62 to 651bs. per bushel. In some in- 

 stances, we hear of enormous crops having been grown, 

 amounting to 60 bushels on tiie acre. There are, of course, 

 exceptional cases of production ; but there is, undouhtedl}', 

 above an average, which may bo estimated at 4 qrs. per 

 acre. The samples of barlcj' are, in some cases, stained ; 

 nevertheless, there is much of good quality. Peas and 

 beans come to market in fine condition ; and oats, though 

 good in quality, are scarcely so productive, comparatively, 

 as the other kinds of grain. The potato crops are large, 

 and the tubers very fine ; but in many instances the dis- 

 ease has affected them considerably. Cider-making is in 

 full operation ; and the crop of fruit, without being abund- 

 ant, is satisfactory. It varies, however, considerably: in 

 some orchards the trees are loaded to profusion, while 

 others have very little. The early ingathering of the har- 

 vest, the favourable weather that has followed, and the 

 conviction of the very great importance of autumn-culture, 

 when the land is in good order, have set the implements to 

 work with great energy. A more propitious time for clean- 

 ing land that may happen to be foul seldom occurs at this 

 season of the year; and there are few indeed who have 

 not taken advantage of it. Much of the land is already 

 prepared for wheat-sowing, in the finest possible order, 

 though the final operation must necessarily be postponed. 

 The root crops are good, with the exception of slight indi- 

 cations of mildew on the swedes, which a little rain will 

 very probably rectify. The reports of complaints among 

 the cattle in South Wales are startling ; but, as yet, there 

 are no sj-mptoms of disease in this quarter. The make of 

 cheese will be about an average one — perhaps a shade 

 under rather than over. The dry weather, which through- 

 out the summer was pi-olonged, had the effect of arresting 

 the growth of grass ; and, consequently, a partial decrease 

 of milk ensued. The fairs and cattle markets support tlie 

 prices of stock of all kinds, agricultural horses excepted, 

 in which there is a decline in value, while roadsters and 

 animals of good character are difficult to procure. — Sept. 26. 



SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE. 



It is always important to give a correct report of every dis- 

 trict, but it is of higher importance immediately subsequei tto 

 harvest. We, therefore, resume our office ; a::d shall endea- 

 vour very briefly to state t'ne exact agricultural position of 

 this district at the present time. We have had a favourable 

 harvest, with the exception of a few days of partial rain at 

 the commencement. This has caused some sprouted samples ; 

 it speedily, liowevcr, cleared away, and was followed by most 

 brilliant weather, so that the latter harvest is secured in ad- 

 mirable order, and promises a full average yield of wheat, and 

 a fair average of bsrley : but oats, beans, and peaa are a short 

 crop, but of good quality. Wheat is of varied quality, but 

 will weigh better than last year. The quantity of strav/ this 

 season is very short; we have seldom seen such scanty stack- 

 yards. The grazing lands never looked better; they are " full 

 of grass," and the stock for the most part doing well. Ed- 

 dishes are remarkably fine. It has been one of the most suit- 

 able seasons ever known for autumn culture ; so thaf Riddle, 

 and Beutall, and Coleman, with every minor scari6er, has been 

 in full requisition : and the universal desire has been, "Oh 

 that steam cultivation could be made to bear upon our lands 

 now !" Most of the lands intended for wlieat have undergone 

 an autumn fallow. The potato crop is in the most unsatisfac- 

 tory state, and much injury is daily in progress: some state 

 half the crop to be bad. We also regret to stale that the 

 turnip crop is most seriously injured hy mildew ; scarcely a 

 field of Swedish turnips have escaped, and many acres are 

 already rotten. The common varieties are better ; but still 

 far from good. Mangel wurzel is again a capital crop. Cole- 

 seed too young, and not likely to be very lasting. Store stock 

 of all kinds selling well. — Sept. 26. 



SOMERSETSHIRE. 

 The last few hot clear sunny days have enabled farmers to 

 bring even the out-of-season crops to a satisfactory conclusion. 

 The clover secured lately appears of better quality and more 

 productive tlian the earlier harvested. During the whole har- 

 vesting a better opportunity for well securing the various crops 



has seldom been witnessed. There are but few complaints of 

 disappointment in yield : often more has been realized than 

 calculated by the seller. We do not think, on the whole, the 

 red wheats are heavy, but they are all sound, and less other- 

 wise inferior samples to last year. A good deal has been 

 thrashed ; but lately mor-e barley, vetches, and beaus have 

 been thrashed. The supplies of wheat have been very irre- 

 gular, and prices uneven during the past month ; 7s. 6d. to 

 73. 9d. for 63 to 64 lbs. white wheat the highest figures, and 

 7s. to 7s. 3d. the lowest ; red 7^. 3d. to 7s. 6d., to 63. 9d. and 

 73. for the best ; inferior qualities of both being a good deal 

 under. Barleys are said not to work well; malting 5s. 3d. to 

 5s. 9d. ; grinding, little thrashed. Beans are very dry and 

 hard, and sell pretty steadily at 5s. 3d. to 5s. 4d. small, 681b., 

 and 53. to 53. Id. large, 64 to 66 lbs. per bushel. Vetches 

 have come down from 6s. 6d. to 5s. and Sa. 3d., are very 

 plentiful, a good crop, and a great many saved. Oats are from 

 228. to 243. (41 to 42 lb?, per biiab.) per qr. Potatoes not 

 half a crop ; good-sized potatoes selling at 9s. to lOs. per 

 2401b3. We have a fair crop of mangel, which will be much 

 helped by the rains. Swedes, although mildewed, have grown 

 lately. Water is short, but on our best lands the pasture has 

 been abundant ; the price of poor stock shows this. Sheep 

 have advanced, and cattle have fully maintained their value. 

 There has been something of a decline in the price of beef, 

 which comes more plentiful to market. Mutton keeps the 

 price better. Beef lis. to 12s. per score (sink) ; mutton 6|^d. 

 to 7d. per lb. — high for this time of the year. Cheese does 

 not decline in price, without much briskness. Butter high, 

 Is. 2d. to Is. 3d. per lb. Little doing in wool, from la. 6d. to 

 Is. 7d., extra Is. 8d. per lb. Pig stock lower; more than the 

 demand brought to market. Bacon 8d. to 9d. per lb. 



NORTH N R T H U J\I B E P„ L A N D. 



In our last letter from this district, 31st of July, we an- 

 ticipated harvest to commence about the 20th uUimo, and 

 in partial instances it was begun on early'situations a few 

 days earlier than that date. August proved altogether, as 

 to wea-ther, very unsettled. First few days fine ; subse- 

 quently, from the 6th to the 13th, inclusive, a continuance 

 of rain, dense fog, and thunder-storm, followed by hot, 

 sultry, close weather, scarcely a breath of air moving a leaf. 

 Wheat and other cereals became ripe, with a bad rusty 

 tinge ; potatoes and beans became black, thexobweb over- 

 hanging -.he leaf day and night; and by the end of the 

 month ths stems were nearly or entirelj' stripped of foliage. 

 On Momla}', the 24th of August, the atmosphere cleared 

 oiTt ; con ripe for the sickle on late situations, equal with 

 more fav)ured localities ; reapers in great request, and 

 fees ruled unusually hiyh. With a full average quantum 

 of assistan:s from the "Green Isle," large breadths of oats 

 were cut djwnby Saturday evening, wheat and barley being 

 generally a few days later than the oats with us this season. 

 Monday 3!st and Septenil)er 1st splendid harvest days, and 

 every availible team carting to the stack. From the 2ud 

 up to the Uth, a continuance of rain and fog, with warm, 

 humid atmffiphere, when no vigilance, ingenuity, or spread- 

 ing out of tie sheaf could prevent sprouting ; and we regret 

 to say veryT;rpat damage has been sustained over fully 

 nine-tenths tf the wheat and barley crops of this northern 

 county. Siite the latter day (15th) the weather has been 

 all that the hish.andman could wish ; and all has been got 

 to the stack ii fine condition for keeping, with the excep- 

 tions referred 0. Great energy and vigilance have been ap- 

 parent on all sdcs. The expense of laying-out, re-tying, 

 and separatinj the sprouted from the sound sheaves, 

 shedding-out c' grain on the field, are all a drawback. Few 

 fields of wheat lave been cleared without twice going over 

 — first carrying the sound side of the stook, leaving .all 

 matted sheaves to collect for a separate stack. Very 

 small patches "et remain to reap, but the great 

 bulk of our cire.als are under thatch, and when 

 put together in therick-yards present a fair average bulk. As 

 to the yield, no souid opinion can ^ct be given, time having 

 almost exclusively ben taken up, in saving the crop on the 

 field : our sample wi\ be very various- — finedown to very infe- 

 rior. Beans, which j-omised well early, are reaping a very 

 meagre crop : thinly pdded, bare sticks— without leaf. Peas, 

 some loss by sheddingiut, and crop generally light ; full of 



