STOCK AND CROPS IN ENGLAND.

Patea Mail, 14 May 1881, Page 3

STOCK AND CROPS IN ENGLAND.

In its issue of March 4 the Mark Lane Express says—Snow, rain, and otherwise variable and dull weather, with very little sunshine, has characterised the past Aveek. The greater portion of the spring sowings must now of necessity be late, and, unless March brings with it drying winds in its early days, a large proportion of them must be carried out under unfavourable conditions. The young wheats are recovering from the effects of the great storm, and have generally a healthy appearance; with the exception of such districts as have been subjected over and over again to flood-water. The average however is small. The Live Stock Journal of the same date says—Flocks on light soils look very much cut up with the drenching the past month has subjected them to, and which, coming after the dreadful weather experienced in January, has imparted no end of chills, fevers, and internal disorders. The lamb crop will suffer greatly in consequence, the accounts being nothing like so good as they were a short time since, owing to a large number of abortions in some districts, and the ewes getting sickly and pining away after lambing in others. Nor are the evil reports of the current period confined to the flocks themselves, as it appears immense numbers of turnips were injured by the severe frosts of January, and are now rotting on the land wholesale. Many farmers who in December were embarrassed with a plethora of sheep keep, now actually entertain fears that the sound roots will not be sufficient to hold out until the spring feed comes ready for consumption. In its issue of March 11 the same journal remarks—The lambing season in North Yorkshire has been one of the most unfortunate which has occurred for many years. A great dearth of turnip feed, owing to the destruction of the crop in the frosts, has been a Very serious loss to graziers. Foot and mouth disease, though still rampant, shows some signs of abatement.