1831.] AgrkuUurai Report. 223 



the beans are parlialW injured by the insect; but in general, though short in the 

 hauhn, it is fully podded. As a whole, wheat, rye, barley, oats, potatoes, turnips, 

 are sanguinely expected to produce a full average crop ; but to repeat our last 

 year's caution, we say aspire Jiiiem, let us wait the event ; we shall determine with 

 more accuracy, after the harvest shall have been got in, and the articles submitted 

 to the test of measure and value. In Ireland, they speak most decisively of the 

 luxuriance of their crops ; in Scotland, with less assurance ; and on many parts of 

 the continent they apprehend considerable failure, the drought probably having 

 been there more severe and continuous, than in our insular climate. 



The late heavy storms of wind and rain, fortunately of short dui-ation, battered 

 down the bulkiest and most luxuriant crops in exposed quarters. The grain must 

 be thence subject to certain degrees of damage, and the former to an additional 

 expence in harvesting. The period since has been almost diurnally showery, but 

 the temperature mild, yet to a degree inHuensal, the wind generally in the S. W., 

 but almost daily and temjjorarily verging towards the N., and precluding the access 

 of any excessive dog-day heats. Our ancient acquaintance Swithin, who by patent 

 is SancUis pluvioaua., has been daily exercising his privilege of either moistening or 

 drenching us, and should he proceed to the full length of his tether, namely, forty 

 days, he will add considerably to the labour and expense of the harvest, the com- 

 mencement of which upon the forwardest lands is matter of daily expectation. On 

 such, considerable quantities of peas have been already harvested in fine condition. 

 On some lands, the vermin have made great havoc with this crop. All the 

 grasses have tailed in point of quantity, and we have another greatly deficient crop 

 of clover. The hay, however, is generally well got up, and the quality excellent, a 

 great advantage to those stock breeders, in the North particularly, who hold such 

 numerous herds from the impossibility of obtaining a remunerating price for their 

 store cattle. On the head of live stock, there seems to be nothing new. Horned 

 cattle and horses at the fairs, are generally quoted lower, but with frequent excep- 

 tions, chiefiy in the South. As to the elite of saddle and coach horses, they have, 

 for years past, defied all market variation or decline ; and in Norfolk, and some other 

 counties, high quality in the cattle has commanded a brisk sale, and high price. 

 Pig slock, particularly the young, are quoted dearer, yet we have been of late much 

 surprised to hear several farmers assert, that there is no profit attached to pig 

 breeding. All speculation is on the side of an advance on wool, which nevertheless 

 is yet tardy. The hops are in somewhat of a dubious state, from the various ap- 

 pearances of blight upon them, though the bine is exceedingly strong and luxuriant. 

 Worcester and Herefordshire are said to be most fortunate with this precarious 

 crop. The few crops of flax grown, chiefly in the S. W., are most beautiful and 

 flourishing. Of hemp, another ornamental as well as useful crop, we have heard little 

 of late years, even in Norfolk ; and saffron, we suppose, has been long extinct, even 

 at Saffron Walden. The great demand for bread corn has long since nearly extin- 

 guished all crops of those extra kinds, which we willingly import, as the great de- 

 claimers against importation are in the constant habit of doing with all sorts of seeds. 

 From the constant rains, the second crop of grass must prove abundant ; thence, from 

 the fine quality of the one and the quantity of the other, it may yet prove a fortunate 

 hay and grass season. In Scotland, they complain of a disease in the' oats, there 

 styled the leg or tulip root, of which we have no experience, at least, under that 

 nick-name ; they also say, that their land has grown tired of clover, a very com- 

 mon complaint with us in former days, which, however, we then supposed to origi- 

 nate chiefly in an improper management of that crop. We have seen in this 

 country the stoutest and heaviest crops of clover we ever witnessed. Though the 

 fruits were so generally cut off in quantity, there has yet been no scarcity of those 

 in season, but at an advanced price. 



The following is a wonderful evidence of the immense powers of multiplication in 

 seeds. A single rye-grass seed produced 27(5 stems. There were 15 joints in each 

 stem, each joint containing 10 seeds, making the extraordinary total of 41,708 seeds. 

 The plant was grown, and the account taken by Mr. Reeve, of Yalding. 



Smilhjielil — liei:t; 3s. 8d. to 43. 4d Mutton, :Js. 8d. to 4s. 6d.— Veal, 4s. to 5s. 



— I.amb, 48. Ikl to 5s. Cd Dairy-Pork, 5s.— Rough fat, 2s. 7d. 



Curn /Cjicliaiiye.— Wheat, 55s. to 72s.— Barley, 2«s. to :J4s — Oats, 21s. to 32s.— 



Bread, 4lb. London loaf, lOd Hav, 50s. to K4s.— Clover ditto, 70s. to I20s.— 



Straw, 27.S. to .3fi8. 



Coal Kxclmnge Coals, in the Pool, 31s. Cd. to 328. 3(1. per chaldron. 



Middlesex, July 2oih. 



