THE ENGLISH HARVEST.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 88, 19 October 1878, Page 3

THE ENGLISH HARVEST.

The ‘Agricultural Gazette’ of August 12th, in summing up the reports received from its correspondents in every county of Great Britain and Ireland, says that though the present crop will not equal the great crop of 1874, it will be much better than those of ’75, 76, and n. Wheat is not much more than the average, oats are rather, and barley decidedly, under the average, while peas and beans are largely failures. Wheat is the best crop of the year, but it is almost certain that it will not equal expectations. The thrashing-machine will disappoint many a farmer who looks at the enormous bulk of straw he has to pass through it, and 1878 will be no exception to the rule that declares a wet, cold May to be fatal to a satitsactory yield of wheat. The latter, however, has lately been all that the wheat-grower could desire, and the yield will probably be greater than could have been expected when the car shot forth. The lighter soils have been most favored by the season. Of 198 returns of wheat crops, 115 report an average crop, and 47 over the average. Of 205 returns of the hurley crop, 89 and 28. Of 208 returns of the oat crop, 103 report an average, and 48 over the average. The weather, which had been at first too wet for corn crops, was just suited for succulent growths. There have been enormous crops of grass, and the weather being suitable, an admirable hay crop was successfully gathered. The potato crop is also expected to be both healthy and heavy. • -