1825.] 
[ 467 ] 
MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
—__———— 
Ehave enjoyed the proverbial and the 
inestimable benefit of a dry March; 
April showers came in the God’s speed, at 
the very point of time when the want of 
them would have neutralized that great 
benefit; a May suceeeded, ‘“‘ making the 
cow to quake.’’ The sun of fortune seems 
inclined to shine brilliantly upon us, and 
old English plenty and prosperity to be 
returning in a full spring-tide. The gene- 
ral tenor of our country letters goes to a 
statement of the appearance of the most 
luxuriant crops of corn, and grasses, and 
fruit, that have been seen during many 
years; and the account is confirmed by an 
ancient and observant friend, one of the 
most extensive cultivators of his own land 
in England. This felicitous dispensation 
might well make the reporter’s business 
seem to be a mere sinecure—he need but 
say, Allis well! But still there are ex- 
ceptions. The -late beneficial rains were 
not succeeded by warm winds, and a mild 
and genial temperature ; but by a continu- 
ance, during about ten days, of harsh and 
blighting airs, attended with fogs, from the 
north and north-east, which curled and 
destroyed much of the fruit-blossom, and 
reduced and sullied the brilliant hues of the 
wheat, inducing. the sickly yellow and the 
botile-green. As dealers in old saws, we 
assert, and we have proved it through many 
a season, that 
«<A wind from the North-east 
Is good for neither man nor beast.” 
The late variable winter and spring have 
too fully and fatally evinced this in the fen 
districts, and on the south-eastern coast, 
where the mortality has been so great, that 
it has been actually styled a plague by the 
inhabitants. For this atmospheric conta- 
gion, we feel quite satisfied with the pro- 
priety and convenience of the term influenza, 
introduced some thirty odd years since. 
That this peculiar disease is so little under- 
stood, and that it is usuaHy unknown but 
in those quarters where it lurks, or by those 
individuals who suffer, is attributable to the 
causes—that it is seldom universal ; and 
that, perhaps, 2 majority of both the human 
race and brute animals are, by good fortune, 
constitutionally insusceptible of its influ- 
ence.- There is, however, always an unfor- 
tunate minority, who are the victims of the 
atmospheric virus. The extent of mischief 
to vegetation occasioned by this contagion, 
depends on the severity and continuance 
of the atmospheric blight ; about twenty 
years since it was universal, and nearly the 
whole of our crops was destroyed by it. 
Our corn and fruits, fortunately, are always 
able to resist the casual and temporary 
spring- blights. The stalks and leaf, and 
» or chaff, of the corn, may be dis- 
coloured, and even the downy ends of the 
kernel be tinged, and yet the grain itself b€ 
plentiful and good ; and our fruit has gene~ 
rally blossom sufficient to spare a part fot 
the devourer: but, should the disease of 
blight go the length of a decomposition and 
corruption of the kernel substance, all the 
brining and liming and care of the farmeT 
have been in vain—smut has succeeded. TO 
shew the capriciousness of the atmospheric 
stroke, one kernel, in an ear of corn, shall 
be smutted and rotten, and another, imme- 
diately adjoining, sound and pure. The 
wheats, partially, are said not to stand very 
thick upon the ground, but they may not 
prove less productive in grain on that ac- 
count. Part of the spring corn has been 
put in very late; but that which is for- 
ward, and the seeds, are sufficiently luxu- 
riant. The plant of potatoes is said to be 
unusually extensive. The turnip lands are 
in good forwardness and condition. We 
are on the eye of sheep-shearing, and hay- 
making will follow. Of hops, little is re- 
ported. The plague of rot in sheep is 
stayed—and, if flock-masters would get rid 
of their prejudices, need not return. On 
the whole, the lambing season has been 
successful. Cattle, sheep and pigs, fat or 
lean, find a ready sale, at most extraordi- 
nary prices. Good horses, for saddle or 
quick draught, are still above all price; 
cart-horses and colts somewhat lower. 
Rents and land rising. Wool in request. 
The trade of HORSE-STEALING increased, 
increasing, and little pains taken to dimi- 
nish it:—the remedy of a file-proof ring, 
for the necks or fetlocks of pastured horses, 
published thirty years since, as the author 
then foretold, too troublesome to be experi- 
mented. . The release of the bonded corn 
is a prelude to free trade, which, no doubt, 
will be carried. next session. The growers 
and the. landed interest ought to reflect, 
seriously and impartially, on the circum- 
stances,. that the late corn-laws were a 
temporary expedient expressly intended for 
their relief ;—that Britain, essentially com- 
mercial, demands a freedom of commerce, 
which is utterly inconsistent with the allow- 
ance of a direct and absolute monopoly to 
the landed interest—in plainer English, of 
giving a bounty upon the growth of dear 
bread-corn. 
Smithfield :—Beef, 4s. Od. to 5s. 4d.— 
Mutton, 4s. 8d. to 5s. 6d.—Veal, 5s. 4d. 
to 6s. 8d.—Pork, 4s. to 6s.—Dairy Pork, 
5s. to 6s. 8d.—Lamb, 5s. 6d. to 7s.—Raw 
Fat, 2s. 2d. ; 
Corn Exchange :—Wheat, 46s. to 80s.— 
Barley, 30s. to 40s.—Oats, 21s. to 32s.— 
Bread (London), 1}d. the loaf of 41b.— 
Hay, per load, 45s. to 96s.—Clover, ditto, 
845. to 115s.—Straw, 36s. to 51s. 
Coals in the Pool, 27s. to 39s, 6d, 
Middlesex, May 23. 
30 2 
MONTHLY 
