which it will not be if it be too thick and too much starved. 1001 am of opinion that a clean, 2 0 0 poor, clayey field; a nasty stiff, miserable, wicked soil, that Lewes Flanigan, Esq. 5 0 00 C. W.. Maidstone 0 26 0 10 0 0 10 0 Bell's Life in London 200 STRAW PLAT. THE time is now approaching for sowing the Spring wheat. I have before frequently, had to observe, that this is the thing which bonnets will be made of, at last. I have. recommended the sowing of twenty bushels to the acre. Some are of opinion that twenty bushels is too large a quantity others think that it is not. I have paid attention to every thing that I have heard upon the subject. I have been very anxious to form a correct opinion, being well aware of how much depends on sowing the proper quantity of seed. All agree, that the land ought to have no fresh manure. Fresh manure would give broad flag or grass to the plant. The plants would fall and rot to a certainty. We sow thick to get the straw slender; and yet we want the straw to be of a tolerable length, 1 clings and bakes as hard as a stone with five or six days' sun, and that is as cold as Greenland six inches beneath the surface; a field that has broken the hearts of hundreds of horses and of scores of farmers; I think if you could get such a field as this quite clean, and were to sow it with ten bushels to the acre, early in April, you might, probably, get a crop of wheat as fine as hogs' bristles; and, let this be observed, that there is no land, that produces straw so solid and so round as this miserable clay. Now as to the seed. I have hunted a long time in vain to get some of this Blé de Mars, as the French call it. A friend of mine in Essex, told me some time ago, that he had spoken to a captain of a packet. to bring him over a bag of this wheat, under pretence of having it for food for his poultry on the passage. The jolterheads, you see, have been so careful to favour domestic improvements, that they have cut offom us the possibility of starting upon equal terms with the Italians. Here is : a Government actually standing in our way, and if we succeed it must be in spite of it. However, I verily believe that this blessed Government would be sorry for where myself, both for straw and our success. We can defy it, and the jolterheads too; for, by hook or by crook, I shall have about forty or fifty bushels of this wheat at Fleetstreet in a few days! If poor WEBB HALL were alive, he certainly would swear that I had smuggled it in, and that I ought to be punished as a traitor to my country. However, I have it safe. No matter where it comes from. I undertake that it is the true Spring wheat, or Blé de Mars; of the straw of which Italians make all the bonnets. for seed. This is all that I think necessary to say upon the subject at present. I have only about forty bushels of wheat in the cargo that I expect, but I can have more; for I will go all lengths rather than not have this wheat. I will beat these Italian Jews in spite of all the governments upon the face of the earth. I care nothing about Custom House laws and Tide-waiters in a case like this. At any rate, I have got the forty bushels! The wheat is not yet come, but I expect to receive it very shortly. Those gentlemen who have sent to me for some of this wheat, shall be supplied as soon as the wheat be received by me. TURNIP AND MANGEL The original cost of this wheat to me (of any previous charges I know nothing), is eight shillings a bushel, English measure. The inland carriage to London, -the sacks, the porterage, and one thing and another will make it cost me about ten shillings a bushel, besides the expense of taking it to a I HAVE SOME Swedish Turnip coach or a wagon, for, if it be Seed, sowed under my own direcsown, go from London it must. If tion, and from plants of my own I sell a sack of it, I shall sell it selecting, in Hampshire. I will for ten shillings a bushel, and pledge myself for its being as good charge the sack. If I sell a as it can possibly be. I have some single bushel, or any thing less Mangel Wurzel Seed, grown by than a sack, the charge must be a man on whom I can place pereleven shillings a bushel. I wish fect reliance; I sell the former at to get not one farthing by this fifteen- pence a pound for any wheat, nor by any thing belonging quantity under ten pounds, and at to this straw affair. Every body a shilling a pound for any larger knows that you can neither move quantity. The Mangel Wurzel hand nor foot nor lips in London Seed at eighteen-pence a pound without paying money. You can- for ten pounds, or any quantity not get a man to carry a bushel of above it; and two shillings a wheat to a coach without giving pound for any quantity smaller him a shilling. You pay two- than ten pouns. If I send to the pence for booking the parcel, Country, I shall send in linen therefore, the above prices cannot bags, besides a bag of paper. The be lowered. I expect the cargo linen bags will be sewed up; and to arrive in a few days, and those I shall charge nothing for the that order it first will be first sup- bags or for the booking at the plied. I shall sow a little some-coach-office. Friday, Feb. 27.-There are but small arrivals of Grain this week; the quantity of Flour is however considerable. Having some demand for re-shipping Wheat, this has occasioned the trade to be more lively, and rather higher prices have been obtained. Barley has sold heavily at Monday's terms. Beans and Peas are unaltered. There has been rather more trade for Oats to-day, and this article has been sold at rather higher prices. Flour continues dull. Monday, March 1.-The arrivals of all descriptions of Grain last week were only moderate, but of Flour the quantity was again considerable. This morning there is a good supply of Wheat, Barley, Beans, and Peas, from Kent alone, but from other counties the quantities fresh up are only moderate. There are not many vessels up with Oats since this day se'nnight. During last week there were some more orders to ship Wheat from hence, and the trade consequently improved, so that the best samples have obtained 2s. per quarter more than last Monday, but the sales made to-day have not experienced equal freedom with those of Friday last. Barley is 1s. to 2s. per quarter dearer, though the demand is limited. Beans and Grey Peas have rather exceeded last week's quotations. Although there is not a considerable quantity of Oats at market to-day, yet this trade has been heavy at the same prices as this day se'rnight. |