462 Agricultural Report. QOct. 



liis bean haulm during the ensuing winter. In our last, we noted the blight in 

 May, which produced rust and blackness upon the stalks and chaft'of the corn, but 

 the chief injury has arisen from an almost universal mildew which subsequently 

 affected the crojjs at the very critical period of their near approach to maturity. 

 This mildew, or unhealthy moisture, the product of heavy dews in a dull, unven- 

 tilated atmosphere, remaining unexhaled upon the superficies of the plants, and 

 being absorbed, causes an obstruction in the circulation of the vegetable juices, 

 which prevents the due filling of the grain, rendering it shrivelled, rough, and 

 defective in substance and colour. In sad truth, mildew is justly deemed the 

 heaviest malady that afflicts our corn crops. In the northern parts, and where so 

 much drought prevailed, they have suffered the least from this scourge. In most 

 parts of England it has been general, fortunately not universal, since we find some 

 favourable exemptions in many, or most counties. 



As to the actual extent of the mildew, we have observed that Scotland, and 

 certain of our northern districts have been least affected. Cornwall boasts of an 

 exemption, and of wheat crops above an average, quantity and quality ; the same 

 of oats, their barley fine, but below an average. Throughout the S.W., and the 

 western parts of the midland counties, the disease does not appear to have been very 

 prevalent. We hear little of it from Oxford and Berks, or trom South "Wales. In 

 the eastern and most fruitful parts of the kingdom, it is reported as most destruc- 

 tive. In Kent, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire, the wheat crops have suffered 

 most from the opprobrium of the season. Some parts of Essex are said to have 

 escaped, but we have seen many samples of rough and poor Essex wheat at market. 

 In Herts the mildew would have done considerable damage, but for the expedi- 

 tion used in cutting and carrying the wheat crop. The barley crop has also been 

 variously affected. In regard to quantity, even including favoured Scotland, ave- 

 rage or large crops universally form the exception, middling and scanty ones the 

 general rule. Not only the want of length and bulk in the straw is universally 

 noted, but the ears are not so numerous as is usual in an abundant harvest, beside 

 being short, and, according to our personal experience, not so well filled, and the 

 grain small. These views urge us to speculate that the loaf will not be much re- 

 duced in price during the ensuing year. As usual in the S.W., wheat seed com- 

 menced with September, the seed scarce and dear. With the aforesaid exceptions, 

 barley is a defective crop in both respects, particularly in regard to quality. In 

 the great barley county, Norfolk, the sample is, too generally, coarse and high 

 coloured ; fine samples are in gi-eat request and very dear. Oats, not an average 

 crop, have been more successful in quality. Beans and peas are below the quantity 

 of last year. Winter vetches make a good figure, and the clover seed, defective in 

 quantity, is a great improvement upon the former crop in point of quality. With 

 Hops there seems to remain a curious stay on which to hang a hope ; the atmo- 

 sphere ot the late season has been j)roductive of thunder, in the opinion of our 

 fathers, friendly to the hop. In fine, too many of our most sanguine expectants 

 have acknowledged their disappointment from their most favourite crops. The 

 brank or buck wheat has been much blighted and mildewed. 



Considerable difiiculties have been experienced in the harvest from the absence 

 of the Irish labourers, threatened and actually ill-used by our natives ; and these 

 last are represented, chiefly in Berks and Kent, as in a dangerous state of insub- 

 ordination, to quiet which will probably require additional remedies to the proposed 

 act tor the allowance of steel traps and spring guns. Occasionally, high prices 

 have been obtained for harvest work, and the general rate has been somewhat 

 improved. In the least productive districts, wheat is deemed full one-third short 

 of an average in quantity. Turnips and potatoes appear likely to prove among the 

 largest crops hitherto obtained in this country ; mildew has occasionally visited the 

 Swedes, bleaching their foliage white. This great supply of roots, and that of the 

 grass have greatly encouraged the purchase of store cattle, and pigs, by which 

 their price has been advanced ; and at our well supplied fairs, with t^w exceptions, 

 the sales have been brisk. As to sheep, the late destruction occasioned by the rot 

 has been sufficient to enhance their price ; and where the rains most prevailed 

 some apprehension still subsists on that score. 



Under draining, wet, and poachy soils, has of late proved extremely profitable 

 to a few intelligent farmers in the north, who express their surprise that an im- 

 provement so long recommended, and of such high consequence, since a single 

 crop will rep.iy the charge at the ]iresent prices, should be so generally neglected . 

 In the south, the old question of the early cutting of wheat has been lately revived, 

 but it still remains a question. The old custom of employing " month's men" in 



