been foody, and little beef and mutton has as yet been laid on. The grazier will have some ground for complaint. The early sown turnips look as well as could be desired, and in too many instances are spoiling for want of hoeing, from the wet weather. Those farmers who had not finished turnip sowing before the 18th of June, were obliged to wait three weeks until they could attempt to resume their labours, such being the extreme wet state of the ground, and we should imagine a less breadth has been sown in consequence, and great difficulty has been experienced in keeping the weeds down. It affords us the greatest gratification in being able to state that the potatoe crop is every where promising; we have not seen a single failure. Beef and mutton are bearing a very high price, with a short supply. We have had no enquiries for wool; the market is in a depressed state.-July 21.

DEVONSHIRE.

(FROM THE EXETER FLYING POST.)

The favourable auspices under which the hay harvest commenced in this county received a serious check from the showery weather that preceded the sun's attainment of its greatest altitude, and particularly the memorable thunder-storm of the afternoon of the 20th of June; frequent showers and a cold and ungenial state of the atmosphere being the characteristic of the remainder of the month. The hay put together during this period was in a very indifferent state, and some of it of little worth. We then had about a week of fine summer weather, the maximum of the thermometer on the 5th July being 78, and hope once more sprung up in the bosom of the farmer. In this brief period every thing that the most unremitting industry is capable of was accomplished, and a great quantity of hay was cut and carried in fine order. The growing wheat, barley, oats, and different descriptions of pulse, also showed how essential to their perfection is the presence of the sun, and a high state of the temperature. These prospects however, were soon again overcast, for on the 8th of July we had a day almost continuously wet: the thermometer sinking several degrees, and the hay harvest being necessarily suspended. The 9th was showery, and the maximum of the thermometer 70. From that period to this (the 20th of July) we have had no settled fine weather, the 18th and 19th being remarkable as partaking more of winter than summer. During these two days and nights it continued more tempestuous, the squalls being frequent, and, as the results have shown, calamitous,-large branches of trees having been twisted off and scattered far and wide; the wind during the time generally blowing from S. and E., veered also to nearly every point of the compass, and the consequences it is to be feared have been most disastrous, the crops of corn not being merely laid by the force of the wind, but, from its whirling action, the stalks, in many places are so twisted and damaged, as it is to be feared, will prevent rising again. With respect to the state of the crops-in this county, neither the clover, eaver, nor meadow hay, turn out the burden that was anticipated, and looking to the state in which much has been put to gether, and also considering that rather large breadths are still out, it is most fortunate that the stock of old hay on hand is greater than has been for some years, which in the next winter is likely to prove of considerable value. The full amount of damage sustained by the growing crops it is impossible at present to estimate, but it may be observed that the early wheat is not so well in the ear as that which was later sown. This latter is generally well kerned, and, before the recent inclement weather, promised a fair crop. The barley is said to have shot up too quickly, and though previous to the 18th it promised a fair burden, the corn is likely to be small. The stock of wheat of our own growth on hand, is limited; as is also that of barley and oats, in which further advance has taken place. Cattle, sheep, and lambs, continue to do well, and the supplies at market have been good, and with trifling exceptions also, prices have been fully supported. From our orchards we had no reason to expect any great amount of produce, but

even this, small as it was, is now very considerably diminished, the few trees that bore fruit, being by the violence of the late tempest stripped of their produce; cider, therefore, particularly the choicer sorts, will fetch high prices.

GLAMORGANSHIRE.

The sharp frosty nights in the month of May, which committed dreadful havoc in the vegetable creation, was succeeded by fine genial weather at the end of that month and the beginning of June, but it was again succeeded by cold easterly winds. The last ten days in June and beginning of the present month proved fine and warm, and very favourable for the wheat crop, which was then coming out into ear, and its appear. ance presented at that time a very gratifying sight. Since the 7th inst. the weather has been very showery, and at present it is boisterous with continued rain, and all the heavy crops of corn must experience serious damage. Although the wheat stood rather thin on the ground in many instances, yet previous to the present wet weather setting in, we had anticipated a full ave rage crop, of which we have now some apprehension. The early sown barley and oats, also, promised weil, the late sown having suffered from the drought in May. The season altogether has been highly favourable for the turnip crop; the dry weather afforded a good opweeds, and the recent rain came in good time to force portunity for preparing the land and cleansing it from the plant beyond the reach of the fly. Swedes, the cultivation of which has greatly increased since the destruction of all the common varieties in the winter of 1837, are looking well, and promise a good crop. vegetated in many places where they were set late, Potatoes are an irregular crop, the seed not having owing, as we believe, to the sets being cut too small and the dry weather which followed. The hay harvest has been considerably retarded lately by the rain, and a large breadth still remains out. The crop of meadow hay is the thinnest we have had in this county for many years, and on that account mowing was deferred, in hopes of obtaining an increase of bulk. This delay is seldom attended with beneficial results; the early grasses shed their seed, and the culms which ought to form the most valuable part of the hay crop is reduced to straw, especially after a little bleaching by the rains, besides the loss of fine weather which we usually get about the end of June. The corn markets here are regulated by the prospects of the ensuing harvest. When these are favourable, prices give way a little, and im prove when on the contrary the weather assumes an unfavourable appearance. The stock of old corn in the growers' hand in this county is very small, and the samples brought to market continue extremely scarce; the crop of last year proved so deficient, that a large portion of our corn mills have been standing still, the owners supplying their customers with Irish flour. The derangement in the money market has, by pro. ducing a scarcity of money, seriously affected all productive industry, and blighted the prospects of the producing classes. This extensive evil must periodically spread its baneful effects as long as a gold currency is persevered in.—July 19.

ON SALTPETRE AS A MANURE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

SIR,-In your paper of the 24th June, I find it stated, that certain farmers had used saltpetre as a manure for wheat, with great benefit. Will you be so kind as to inform me, whether it was used as a top dressing, after the wheat had appeared above ground; also the price of saltpetre per cwt.? In so doing you will much oblige your obedient servant, J. RAYMOND BARKER. Fairford Park, June 29.

Several parcels of wool were disposed of during the day, but at a reduction of 1s. per stone below the prices obtained at Kelso market on Friday last. One lot, however, consisting of twenty-two scores of fleeces, belonging to Mr. Scott of Courthill, all half-bred hog wool of very fine quality, was sold at 37s. a-stone. There was a little business done in Cheviot wools, and we believe the following were the prices obtained:-White-washed Cheviot wool, in mixed parcels, from 29s. to 33s.; and laid ditto, from 19s. to 23s. a-stone.

SHERBORNE SUMMER FAIR was the smallest known for many years, and was by no means well attended. The sheep fair was brisk, at good remunerating prices; fleshy wethers were in request, and sold at from 40s. to 50s. each; poor ones from 28s. to 36s. Mutton from 6d. to 7d. per lb. Lambs were inquired after, and all that was good sold quickly at from 188. to 25s. per head. Ewes were not so brisk of sale, and very few were offered; but nearly the whole of all descriptions of sheep changed hands in the course of the day. Fat beef was in short supply, but quite equal to the demand; there were some very pood beasts offered, the best of which fetched from 9s. to 10s. per score, but some quantity remained unsold at the close of the fair. No doubt the weather had some effect on the trade, as we never remember seeing so few butchers at Sherborne July fair in any previous year. Of poor beasts, the supply of Devons, as regards numbers, was good, but not so in quality, there being but few of prime quality exhibited; those found customers at high prices, whilst superior old Cornish oxen and steers were a complete drug, and many were turned out uasold. The horse fair was the smallest known for many years, and as the few exhibited were of the most inferior description, but very little business was done. There was a good attendance of wool-buyers at the fair, who showed some disposition to buy at from 154d. to 16d. per lb., the sellers asking 17d., being a reduction of 1d. per lb. on the prices obtained at this fair last year; buyers and sellers seemed firm at the above prices, consequently but little if any was sold.

GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR

AUGUST.

If the fruit in the pinery be all cut, let the old plants be removed, and the suckers carefully taken off and laid up to dry for a few days before planting. Fork over the bed, and mix with it a sufficient quantity of fresh tan or leaves, taking care to keep the greater part of the fresh matter well down towards the bottom, and to bring up to the surface a sufficient depth of half decayed tan in which to plunge the pots. When the heat has come up in the bed, select from the succession pits a number of the strongest and healthiest plants for next year's fruiting; examine their roots, and if necessary shift them into larger pots; give a gentle watering, and plunge them about four or five inches only, until the violent heat of the bed subsides, when they should be fully plunged to their rims. Give a good syringing over head to wash off the dust from their leaves, and attend to regular and moderate waterings afterwards as the weather and state of the plants may determine. Air should be freely admitted in the day time when the thermometer exceeds 80°, and at night the temperature ought to be kept up to 65° or 70°. Young plants should be examined and shifted, and taken into the succession department after the bed has been prepared as directed above.

The sashes of vineries and peach-houses where the fruit has been gathered may now be removed, and applied to some other purpose, such as the ripening of grapes or peaches on the walls, or they may be laid up under cover if not wanted. The engine should be kept in daily operation if the trees are at

all infected with insects; the borders also will require frequent waterings in dry weather.

Attend to stone and greenhouse plants, and shift such as require larger pots. Cut down geramiums which have done flowering, and propagate by cut. tings. Stake, train, and destroy all kinds of insects.

Propagate auriculas by offsets, carnations and pinks by piping or laying, and herbaceous plants generally by cuttings of the stem or dividing the roots, and evergreen shrubs by layers or cuttings.

Attend to the staking and tying in of dahlias, the training of climbers, and the properly securing of all plants exposed to the wind. Frequently stir the surface of beds and borders with the hoe and rake; cut down all decayed flower stems where seed is not wanted; remove all withered leaves and rubbish, and study neatness in every department of the flower garden.

Evergreens of all kinds may now be transplanted, but if the weather be dry water must be liberally administered to both root and branch. Trim evergreen hedges, and box edgings, if not done last month.

The operation of budding the different sorts of fruit and ornamental trees may still be performed, but let it be completed with as little delay as possible. Loosen the bandages of those that were budded last month, and rub or cut off all shoots from the stocks of those budded last year.

Continue to nail in the young shoots of wall fruit trees as they extend, and push the leaves overshadowing the fruit aside, to expose it as much as possible to the full influence of the sun.

Go on destroying wasps, black-flies, slugs, &c. Gather fruits of all kinds for preserving when dry. Plant strawberries, select the strongest plants, and give a good watering to settle the earth about their roots.

Cut herbs when in flower, and dry them for win

ter use.

Sow spinach, carrots, turnips, and black Spanish radish about the beginning and end; winter onions, parsley, lettuce, endive, and cabbage about the middle; cauliflowers, American cress, and chervil about the middle and end of the month, and small salad every ten or twelve days.

Transplant celery, coleworts, savoys, endive, and lettuce.

Hoe and earth up the crops already planted; thin,, weed, and stir the surface among all young crops and clear away old leaves, weeds, and all rubbish.

J. T.

AGRICULTURAL QUERIES.

A tenant of 300 acres, rented from year to year, has just offered an advance of 107. per cent. for a lease of 14 years. I have consented to grant a lease at a corn rent, taking his present rent and the tithe averages for seven years, to Christmas 1835 as the basis. Perhaps some of your correspondents will tell him, through your columns, which will be most for his interest-his offer or mine.

A tenant quitting his farm at Lady-day sows his Wheats dry, that is, without pickling, in a country given to smut. Is the incoming tenant bound to pay for seed and labour, rent and taxes, for the land so sown, or only for the ploughings; and at all events ought not the away-going tenant to wait the result of the crop at harvest before he claims payment ? A MEMBER OF THE

ENGLISH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The corn trade during the last month, has been more than usually inanimate. In common seasons at the same period of the year, the weather generally governs the state of the market, the great holders of grain being always more or less affected in their opinions and operations by the prospects in the fields. This year, however, forms an exception to the general rule, for which the cause is a most legitimate one. The growth of wheat at home last year was so extremely deficient, both in quality and in quantity, that, to all appearances, very little of the late crop now remains unconsumed. There are therefore at present, few great holders of the necessaries of life, unless they be of foreign production, and the proprietors of foreign wheat, on which the duty has been paid for consumption in this country, are so exceedingly confident in the correctness of their speculations, that weather markets, in no material manner at present, make any important impression on their operations. In the almost total absence at present of supplies of wheat from our home growers, they bring to market only such quantities of the finest descriptions of foreign wheat, as the actual cousumption requires, knowing that with a duty of 16s. 8d. per quarter, the quantity of free wheat in granary cannot be materially increased, until a considerable improvement occurs in its value. There has latterly therefore been far less animation in the trade than is usually the case when the harvest time approaches, for no immediate decline in prices of any consequence can be anticipated, even did the coming crop prove most abundant both in quality and in quantity; but on the contrary, various possibilities at all events, if not probabilities exist, that before the close of this year, great advantages may be reaped by those who at present bring their wheats very sparingly into consumption. The season is even in the most favourite districts later than usual. A late harvest in this country no doubt is not always attended by a deficiency in the crops, nor by a deterioration in their qualities, but still it must be attended with much danger, and the result not unfrequently is most ruinous. A late season exposes the crops to many vicissitudes, and seldom indeed are the wheats in particular, under such circumstances favoured at the proper period with that portion of sun warmth which is so very necessary to their reaching that degree of ripeness on which the weight of the crop so materially depends. From the middle of October last year, to nearly the end of May last, we experienced nearly a continued winter. Towards the close of May, the heats of summer succeeded to the colds of winter, leaving no intermediate space for the Spring. It is as yet too early to observe the effects of this unnatural state of the season on the coming crops, although, no doubt, to superficial observers the appearances in the fields, leaving lateness out of view, just now are favourable. The early wheats however, in many places have produced little or no bloom, and heavy storms of wind and rain have latterly materially affected large quantities where the bloom was in great luxuriance. This latter circumstance is not however of so much importance to the actual prospect of the farmer, as the total want of

TRADE

bloom is, for without that there can be no grain. The extent of land now under wheat cultivation is considerably larger than it was last year as is now the case annually, but the crop, although apparently luxuriant, is still thinner than usual on the ground, the straw is rather short, the natural consequence of the absence of spring weather, and it is too soon yet to form any correct opinion of the ear. The weather latterly has been too wet and stormy, and genial sun is now more than usually necessary for ripening the crops. This empire is never safe, in as far as the supply of its inhabitants with bread corn, is concerned, unless the growers of wheat at home, at the commencement of the corn season, hold over from the previous crop, a quantity sufficient for the consumption of the people during the remainder of the year. It is not doing justice, even to the quality of the wheat crop in the best of seasons, to convert it into flour immediately after it has been carried from the fields; indeed in the most favourable seasons, very small is the quantity which can be ground immediately after it has been gathered from the fields without a large mixture of old wheats amongst it. In a doubtful and late wheat season like the present, it is neither fair nor possible to calculate on any material quantity of the coming wheat being fit for the miller's use as soon as it is reaped, indeed the calculation, if any can be made, must be on the other side, and a larger quantity than usual therefore of old wheat will be required for the consumption of the people during, at all events, the succeeding six or eight months; and most certainly there is very little appearance at present of our farmers holding a quantity of the last wheat crop, in any way equal to the quantity which the regular consumption will require, until the present year shall be concluded, and a part of the ensuing one shall have also passed away. We have now had a too fatal experience of the general evils of an unrestricted trade in wheat with foreign nations, during the last ten months, and there is not one class of British society which has as yet reaped the slightest benefit from freedom in the corn trade. We have already paid from six to eight millions sterling for foreign grain in the precious metals.

As yet nobody has received one solitary advantage from this state of things, for the importers of foreign grain have not gained profits more than equal to their capital employed in, and the risk of loss, to which they have been subjected, by their corn speculations. The foreigner has not taken from our manufacturers goods in exchange for his wheat, a fact sufficiently established by the adverse state of the rates of the foreign exchanges, and which, should anything occur, detrimental in the smallest degree to the coming crop, may occasion much mischief throughout the country. During the last corn season also the farmers, from the deficiency in the produce of their fields, and from the circumstance of the prices obtained for their crops not being sufficiently high to remunerate them for the want of quantity, have not been able to support the expences, to which in more favourable seasons they were subjected, in the consumption of manufactured goods, and thus

A

has the late experiment, or more properly speak ing, necessity of a free corn trade injured the manufacturer of British goods both in the home and in the foreign markets. If experience ever teaches wisdom, the people of this country have at present a good opportunity of learning the lesson "that what can be profitably produced at home should seldom indeed be drawn from foreign countries." In the one case we employ producers who must be maintained at home at any rate, whilst in the other case we give encouragement to foreign producers to the great injury of our own. stronger argument in favour of corn laws, protectective to our home agricultural operations, cannot exist than that which the present state of the British empire now universally places before the people. We wanted large supplies of foreign wheat during this season in consequence of the deficiency in our home produce of that article, and we obtained them in great abundance from various quarters, thereby contradicting the late theory that unless we received annually whatever foreign nations could spare from their own consumption, they would cease to grow more than their own wants annually required. Events have fully proved this opinion to have been not correct, as they have likewise perfectly established that there exists little reciprocity in this description of commercial intercourse, for the value of goods of all descriptions exported to those countries, from which the wheat has been imported, has not increased, but on the contrary has very materially decreased during the last twelve months. Should a deficiency in the quantity of home grown grain annually occur, we must soon cease to be a flourishing and powerful community, and the greatest encouragement, therefore, should be held out to the cultivators of our own fields to prevent the occurrence of a calamity of so much magnitude, for, unless agriculture be prosperous, we have, at the present time, most ample proof that manufactures cannot flourish. It is alone to the depressed state of agriculture at home, occasioned solely by the elements, that the Manchester manufacturing labourer must attribute the limit at present imposed on his days of productive employment, for the foreigners, whose agricultural produce he has now for many months consumed, do not take in return the products of his industry, and unfavourable circumstances have prevented, and continue to prevent, the usual consumption of manufactured goods at home. It is, therefore, for the general benefit and public good that encouragement, in the most extensive sense of the word, should, at all times and in all seasons, be given to agricultural pursuits at home, for this is the key stone to the arch of British society, which, unless it flourish, every other interest in the empire must sooner or later decay. Amongst political economists of modern days an idea has been entertained that certain descriptions of lands are too poor in their qualities to admit of their profitable cultivation, and therefore that such pursuit should not be protected by law. Now, with our dense population, we are not certain but that the surplus of our labourers would be much more profitably employed in the cultivation of land at present poor and in a state of perfect nature than in manufacturing clothing for foreigners, many of whom are perfect savages, and for which the pay is most uncertain, generally depending on the supply of the precious metals at the settlement of accounts. It certainly would be an operation of far greater national importance that these waste lands should eventually be culti

vated and rendered subservient to the wants of the people, than that they should remain in their present state. It certainly will be a vast public benefit, for instance, when the proposed county Victoria is reclaimed from the banks of various rivers in Norfolk and Lincolnshire, and two hundred thousand acres of land of the finest quality are thereby rendered useful, because productive; but under the protection of corn laws alone can operations of so much magnitude be undertaken. These lands, when reclaimed, will produce of themselves as much bread corn as will support half a million of human beings, and they will continue to do so for centuries to come, an advantage of greater national importance than any department of our manufactures, most valuable as we certainly consider them to be, can, by any possibility, present to the community at large. This, however, is only a small portion of the cultivation of which Great Britain is even still susceptible, for millions of acres may yet be redeemed in various other quarters from uselessness and rendercd subservient to the wants of mankind. Surely a free corn trade, if it was attended by greater benefits than even its greatest admirers profess ever to receive from it, can never be placed in competition with the advantages which must be the natural and certain consequence of the gradual progress of agriculture towards perfection. During the last forty years, or rather since the beginning of the present century, the average consumption of foreign wheat throughout the United Kingdom has scarcely reached half a million of quarters annually, and surely a trade, so perfectly contemptible as this is, ought not to be permitted to interfere with those most salutary laws, which encourage and protect internal land improvements. This foreign importation also is only necessary once in half a dozen of years, and then it falls most injuriously on the standard of our circulation, thereby depreciating the wages of industry and reducing the value of every description of property whether it be commercial, manufacturing, or agricultural.

If however the corn laws, imperfect as they are, be of so much consequence to the prosperity of Great Britain, they are triply so to that of Ireland. There is an acknowledged superabundance there in the population, and a vast mass of idleness and of distress is the very natural consequence. The whole island however, presents an almost unvaried field for improvement, and for productively employing perhaps double the number of its present inhabitants, numerous though they undoubtedly be, and even under the existing protective corn laws, the progress already made in the cultivation of the fields is almost incredible to those who recollect their state twenty years ago. Although, however, a great deal in the way of improvement has been already effected, still what yet may be done is immeasurably greater, and of far more national importance. The improvements already made there in agricultural pursuits, have for some years past enabled the oat growers there to supply the consumers in Great Britain of that article, with a quantity little short in value of three millions sterling annually, which sum is speedily again put into circulation at home amongst our manufacturers, and other productive classes of society. Had it not been for the agency of the corn laws, this supply of oats must have been imported from foreign nations, amongst the inhabitants of which the money paid for it must have been divided, and would have deprived many industrious families in this country of productive