THE HARVEST AND CROPS IN ENGLAND.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 430, 29 October 1875, Page 4

THE HARVEST AND CROPS IN ENGLAND.

Mr James Sanderson writes to the Times on September 2nd as follows : Sir—The prospects of the wheat crop of 1874 at this time last year were, to the majority of observers, most promising. Some of these pronounced it equal to the great crop of 1868 ; others placed it equal to any crop of this century, while a third party went so far as to say that the yield of the wheat crop of 1874 would prove so great as to limit our foreign requirements to 6,000,000 qrs. ’ These estimates, judged only by subsequent prices, were borne out. Every country was supposed to have a great yield. The corn trade became paralysed, speculation was dormant, millers bought only for immediate requirements, and the price of wheat soon reached a comparatively lower level than that of any other description of agricultural produce. The Government returns, however, reveal a somewhat different phase. Instead of the importations being 6,000,000 qrs, they reached nearly double that quantity, and the heme deliveries have not exceeded those of ordinary years. It is, doubtless, true that a considerable quantity of wheat, which the returns do not embrace, has been consumed by cattle and sheep, as it proved to be the cheapest stock food last season. In all probability, if prices had ranged 5s per quarter higher, wheat would have been more carefully husbanded, and, instead of depleted granaries and exhausted barnyards, a considerable quantity would have been in store to meet a deficient harvest. The present year’s crop is, however, more worthy of attention than that of last year. vVheat got a most favorable seed-bed, brairded healthily and vigorously, stood the winter well, and, altogether, in its early stages, gave promise of a good crop. Notwithstanding the favorable weather in March, it tillered badly, and by the end of May it was evident that, on light soils especially, it was thinly planted. The excessive rainfall during the end of June and beginning of July turned the scales in favor of light soils, as the strong land crops got rusted and assumed an unhealthy hue. It was evident that many spikelets would prove abortive, as the bloom never set upoq, them,

and it is worthy of notice that, in sheltered situations, the bloom faded too quickl). So early as the 19th of July last I stated in the Times that the wheat crop was much rusted, that the yield would be deficient, the quality inferior, and that the wheat area would prove to be under the average. I regret that, after six weeks’ further inspection of a large area in the southern, eastern, and midland counties, I cannot write more favorably of the wheat crop! The brilliant harvest weather during the last month has, doubtless, done much to raise the fallen stems, to check the progress of rust, and mitigate the effects of smut and mildew; but it could not cure the mischief caused by July rains, expand shrivelled grains, or improve crops already dead from rust, but not matured. The heads are genelally not only defective, but almost all heads grown on strong soils incumbent on clay have several thin, . half-developed grains. The most blighted fields I have seen are on the rich chalk loam of East Kent, and in many districts blight is as bad on standing as on laid crops. Happily, there are districts which have escaped the diseases I have referred to, and I have seen a considerable area in Berks, Kent, Herts, and Beds which will yield an average crop and of excellent quality, Rivetts and some of the harder red varieties are least mildewed, while blight in the white varieties is all but universal. The peculiar mummy or Egyptian wheat, of which a considerable breadth has been sown this year, has suffered severely, and is evidently not suited for a wet season—its hydra heads being only receptacles for moisture and insect life. Harvest commenced about ten days later than in ordinary seasons, cutting made rapid progress, and, notwithstanding the prevalence of beaten-down and twisted crops, rarely has such an extensive area been cut in so short a time. If the brilliant weather continues to the end of this week, one half of the cereal crops in England will have been secured in the finest possible condition. In the majority of instances the yield of thrashed-out fields has been disappointing. A field near Colchester was estimated before being cut at 6 qrs per acre, but yielded only 4 qrs. A large field in Bast Kent which had sufficient straw for 8 qrs, yielded only 3£ qrs. I have seen 6 qrs per acre, of good quality, thrashed out in Berks ; but the general yield in that county is from 5 to 8 sacks per acre. In Northamptonshire 5 qrs per acre has been produced, but in the same county a field of shallow surface soil, incumbent on calcareous grit, yielded only 12 bushels per acre. The yield will prove in excess of the deficient crops of 1867 and 1873, and maybe taken to be 18 per cent under average. The quality is exceedingly variable. Some samples are large in the grain, of good colour, and weigh 651 b per bushel. These, however, are exceptional, and the quality generally is inferior, the grain being thin and shrivelled, but the condition excellent.

Barley suffered equally as much as wheat from the excessive rainfall. It promised up to the beginning of Jane to be a very great crop, but subsequently got so laid and interwoven with young clovers that the Equality got seriously damaged. As to yield, it is fully an average crop, but the quality is generally inferior, being discolored, coarse, and thin in the berry. The light soils, especially those incumbent on chalk, are yielding, both as regards quantity and quality, the best crops. On account of the general failure of clovers last year, the barley area is unusually large. The oat crop, which, having brairded unequally and suffered severely from wireworm, gave early anticipations of being a miserable one, is nearly an average, The long-continued dry weather has checked the progress of the potato disease, and, judging from present appearances, an average yield of sound potatoes will be gathered. Winter beans are above average, while Spring beans are deficient. Peas are bulky in straw and well podded, but the yield has been greatly diminished by shedding. Roots—Turnips and mangolds are a full crop, pastures are unusually luxuriant, and altogether the prospects of an abundant supply of autumn food is most cheering. Unfortunately, the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease prevents farmers from reaping the full benefit of their singularly rich pastures. The short yield of the first crop of artificial hay, especially in the Eastern counties, has been partly met by the heavy yield of the second crop. I have seen in Kent the latter yield 30 cwt per acre, while the former produced only 15 cwt. Prices of beef and mutton rule high, and store stock of every description commands prices greatly in advance of those of last year. It is worthy of notice that the system of selling stock at fairs is being gradually supplanted by that of selling by auction. Thus it is not difficult to account for the formerly great Border fairs of Melrose and St Boswell’s being reduced to insignificant proportions when Messrs John Swan and Son recently, in one day, sold in their auction ring at St Boswell’s 37,000 sheep and lambs —a feat probably never before accomplished in Great Britain.