92 



Prospects of the Crops. — Joseph Cloud. 



Vol. X. 



Prospects of the Crops. 



With the exception of a few partial 

 showers in different parts of the country, 

 the weather has continued uninterruptedly 

 fine; harvest operations have consequently 

 been rapidly proceeded with, and in most of 

 the southern counties the bulk of the corn 

 has been carried. In the north of England 

 there is still a considerable quantity of grain 

 abroad ; but the lately experienced sunny 

 days have brought the crops forward amaz- 

 ingly, and in situations where a month back 

 it was feared that corn would never arrive- 

 at maturity, the sickle has lately been ac- 

 tively employed. On the whole our pros-l 

 pects as to the future have undergone an im-i 

 mense improvement since the 20th of Au-| 

 gust, but to suppose that the evil eflects of 

 a decidedly wet summer have been entirely 

 remedied, would be altogether unreasonable. 

 That a great proportion of the wheat of this' 

 year's growth will be of inferior quality and 

 light weight is unquestionable, nor is it pos- 

 sible that the deficiency from the defective 

 state of the ear, so generally complained of, 

 can have been made good ; we must, there- 

 fore, adhere to the opinion already expressed 

 on former occasions, viz : that besides the 

 falling ofl^ in meal in consequence of the 

 want of weight, and otherwise mferior meal- 

 ing properties of the berry, the acreable pro- 

 duce will be found short of an average. In 

 judging of the probable value of wheat du- 

 ring the ensuing winter, the injury which 

 potatoes have suffered in many of those dis- 

 tricts where this article is most extensively 

 grown, must not be overlooked. Until lately 

 the blight, or to whatever else the failure is 

 attributable, was supposed to have extended 

 no further than the south of England and 

 the Channel Islands. Within the last week, 

 however, complaints have reached us from 

 Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire, 

 from which it would appear that the extent 

 of the ravages made by the disease is not 

 yet ascertained. Considering how large a 

 portion of the food of all classes consists of 

 potatoes, so extensive a failure must be re- 

 garded as a great calamity. Already prices 

 have risen considerably, and it is certain 

 that if the mischief should prove anything 

 like so extensive as it is represented to be, 

 the consumption of bread stuffs must be in- 

 creased enormously. These considerations 

 lead to the conclusion, that though no mate- 

 rial advance may occur in quotations of wheat 

 immediately, the article must hereafter rise 

 in value. 



In speaking of potatoes, we omitted to 

 mention one important fact, viz: that orders 

 have been received here from Holland and 

 Belgium for the purchase of the article at 



very high rate?, whilst their export has been 

 prohibited by the Government of the last 

 named country. We have heard it reported, 

 on good authority, that a contract has already 

 been closed at Poole, to ship a thousand tons 

 to Holland. The export of agricultural pro- 

 duce from England to the Continent, is cer- 

 tainly a new feature. — Mark Lane Express. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Joseph Cloud. 



It is no less a duty than a high obligation, 

 to pay suitable tribute of respect to the mem- 

 ory of a good and useful citizen. The de- 

 ceased, whom we now take up the pen to 

 speak of, occupied a high place in the esteem 

 of his fellow men ; and was endeared to those 

 who knew him best, by sentiments of pure 

 affection. We speak n";ore particularly at 

 this time of his domestic relations and at- 

 tachments, for history will record his other 

 qualities and attainments as they deserve. 

 During the latter part of his life he was de- 

 voted to the pursuit of agriculture, and 

 demonstrated on his own farm in Chester 

 county, the correctness and importance of 

 his theories, on the science of agriculture, 

 by the superior productiveness of his mode 

 of cultivation, based upon scientific princi- 

 ples. Mr. Cloud's practical suggestions on 

 the subject of chemistry, as applied to agri- 

 culture, were not appreciated by farmers 

 generally. He was indeed in advance of 

 the age, and it remains for the next genera- 

 tion to profit by the truths he inculcated from 

 time to time through the Cabinet and other 

 useful periodicals. He is now no more, and 

 with the recollect on of his pertonal virtues, 

 he has left behind him other evidences of 

 usefulness to mankind, which will live after 

 him and praise him. It would be consoling 

 to dwell upon acts of kindness and humanity 

 received at his hands, but such tilings are 

 rewarded in the fulness of the human heart 

 from which they emanated ; and public ex- 

 pression of gratitude would only wound the 

 holier satisfaction which is the meed of pure 

 philanthropy, such as characterized many 

 private traits of him who is the object of 

 this humble tribute. 



An Old Friend. 



Philadelphia. Sept. 19th, 1845. 



DoBSETsniRE possesses a valuable breed 

 of sheep peculiar to itself The pure breed 

 are entirely winte, the face long and broad, 

 with a tutl of wool on the forehead ; the 

 shoulders are low but broad, the back 

 straight, the chest deep, the loins broad, 

 the legs rather beyond a moderate length, 

 and the bone small. They are a hardy and 

 useful breed, and the mutton is well flavored. 



