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" Tlie turnip crop in the soiitliem, eastern, and in most of the midland counties 

 of England, is a failure. In the fine root-producing counties of Norfolk, Hants, 

 and Berkshire, a few fields of average quality may be witnessed, but these are 

 exceptional, and the greater portion of the area allotted to turnips and mangold 

 is a blank. 



" Pastures in the south have suffered severely from the drought, and up to the 

 middle of August presented the most arid appearance. Stock not supported 

 with extraneous food subsisted chiefly on hedgerow leaves and the branches of 

 trees, and it is surprising how they maintained their condition. 



" Taking the crops as a whole, wheat is an average, barley fully average, 

 oats one-third deficient, beans under average, potatoes short, roots in the south 

 not one-fourth of a crop ; in the north a full average. 



"With a light crop of hay, roots a failure, a short yield of straw and barren 

 pastures, it is a matter for serious apprehension on the part of farmers in the 

 south respecting their short supply of food for a full supply of store and fatten- 

 ing stock." 



In its paper of September 24, this paper has the following editorial comment 

 on the crops : 



" The certainty of at least an ordinary crop of wheat and barley is perhaps 

 sufficient to justify Mr. Disraeli's account at Aylesbury last Wednesday of the 

 cereal harvest generally; but whatever may be thought of his opinion of our 

 wheat and barley crops, there cannot be a doubt of the mistake he made in re- 

 ference to the almost equally important subject of cattle food. The root crops, 

 which, according to him, are ' not so bad after all,' are simply the greatest fail- 

 ure that the existing generation of fanners has known. All over southern and 

 midland England the turnip crop is a failure, and the wurzels, everywhere ex- 

 tremely patchy, are like the produce of our grass fields, only half a crop. 



" The maintenance of our breeding and our young stock in healthy condition, 

 and the maintenance of progress in our fattening stock, is the great agricultural 

 difficulty of the coming Avinter." 



The correspondents of this paper thus refer to the condition of these crops in 

 their respective localities : 



Surrey-County. — "The failure in the root crop far surpasses anything I 

 have ever witnessed. There seems to be literally nothing in the shape of 

 Swedes or turnips in pi'ospect for the coming winter. Since the recent rains 

 the few roots that remain are putting on a growing appearance, and look like 

 spots in a desert, the gaps are so numerous and extensive all around. 



" The usual winter stock of sheep I keep, with the same feeding, would eat 

 everything clean up by the end of November, such is the extent of the fiiilure." 



Gloucester County. — "Your inquiry for information on plans for ekino- 

 out the supply of foodfor sheep and cattle, which prevails in the southern counties, 

 is not so easily answered, and I fear comes somewhat too late. Linseed cake 

 of prime quality at the present price, about 12 pounds per ton, (60 dollars per 

 2,240 lbs.,) is an extravagant food. Bran, at 5 guineas (25 dollars) a ton, is 

 far more economical. Lentils and Indian corn, both at present to be bought at 

 from 32 shillings to 34 shillings per quarter, are cheap foods, (87 6S to 8S 16 

 per 8 bushels. ) Wheat again is a cheap article to mix with Indian corn." 



Somerset County. — "Here, too, the failure of the turnip crop is universal, 

 and the remedy proposed is to feed no beasts in the stalls this winter. This 

 portends high prices for meat next spring and summer ; and unless the price of 

 oats and Indian corn remains moderate, which can hardly be expected, there 

 will be hard times for the young stock also." 



The same paper of October 1, says : 



"A large portion of our paper is this week occupied with reports of the past 

 harvest, and with speculations as to the coming winter. In the multitude of 

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