650 Monthly Agricultural Report. Nov. 



ductive soils harvest has been most speedy and propitious, and the products great and 

 estimable, both in quantity and quality. The wheat crop in Scotland is deemed a full 

 average, with the strange exception of the CARSE OF GOWRIK ; where they venture 

 to predict we .hope from a splenetic rashness that it will not thrash to more than 

 half the quantity of last year's crop. To the credit of the Scots, the practice gains 

 ground of dragging aud cleaning their potatoe grounds, preparatory to wheat 

 sowing. 



During last month, the weather being so highly favourable, has doubtless urged the 

 cultivators of our best and most forward soils to a premature seeding of their wheat, 

 which was above ground almost immediately, and is even at present luxuriant. I'nless 

 checked by early frosts, the certain consequence will be a bulk of grass, which must, 

 in some degree, exhaust the roots, with the dangerous accompaniment, in the spring-, 

 of voracious slugs and grubs. However, our farmers generally sow thick enough to 

 spare a considerable portion of their plants ; sometimes so very thick, that, after fat- 

 tening their live stock of slugs and grubs, there still remains an unprofitable superfluity. 

 Wheat-sowing may be said to be completed on the pulse stubbles and fallows, and little 

 remains unseeded of the potatoe grounds the whole performed under the happiest 

 auspices. It is, however, with regret that we have to state the fallows too generally are 

 so foul as to disgrace British agriculture. The late warm, moist, and favourable 

 weather has purified the turnips from mildew, and excited a very luxuriant degree of 

 vegetation, affording the prospect of a very considerable crop on real turnip soils. 



The meadows and pastures luxuriate in a superabundant flush of autumnal grass, 

 sporting that beautiful native green, peculiarly English, the admiration of foreigners. 

 Never, indeed, was there a greater contrast in production and hue, than between the 

 appearance of the pastures some months past and at present. Men were then driven 

 to the necessity of sending their cattle many a mile in search of a bit of green food ; 

 whereas now, with many farmers, a field of grass is a tenement to be let. Winter tares, 

 clovers, and the variety of green crops for the support of sheep and lambs in the spring, 

 seem to rival the natural grasses in luxuriance. Large second crops of clover have 

 been cut. There is, perhaps, at present, the most extensive breadth of the green 

 crops ever before witnessed in England one of the most important articles of provision 

 within the farmer's view. Clover-seed will make a poor return this year. It is said 

 but of the fact we have no present means of judging that the extent of land sown 

 with wheat is considerably less than that of the last year. 



Home-made manure having necessarily been extremely short in quantity, every 

 article of that kind has been songht without, and purchased with the utmost spirit and 

 avidity by the cultivators of the most improved districts: as some recompcnce, the 

 present corn crops will afford a large bulk of straw. The great abundance of keep, 

 present and prospective, must soon have considerable effect on the price of store cattle 

 and sheep, though, at present, the rise is not of much amount. Wedders and lambs 

 find a ready sale on improved terms; while ewes hang on hand. Cattle advance gra- 

 dually ; and good milch- cows, which indeed seldom fail, meet great prices. Store pigs 

 are quoted somewhat lower; but they must be dear, at least, until after the spring. 

 Nothing need be said of fat stock of every description, since the public demand con- 

 tinues immediate and pressing. After all, the immense stock of animals, and of human 

 food of every description, demonstrates any thing rather than poverty in the country, 

 and inability for production. Good horses, according to the example of many years 

 past, command extraordinary prices; and their comparative paucity does no extraor- 

 dinary credit to the skill of our English breeders. The import from the Continent still 

 continues. 



In this great fruit year, apples and grapes make a conspicuous figure. But the 

 breeders of apples seem to have subjected themselves to a reproof analogous to that 

 applied to the breeders of horses. Immense quantities of apples are thrown upon the 

 market, fit for no other purpose than to disgust the palate and gripe[the bowels of mortal 

 man. This is the consequence of our old and unimproveable stagers obstinately retain- 

 ing the vile sorts bequeathed to them by their grandfathers, instead of replacing them 

 with valuable stocks. But, in the view of improvement, we do not consent to abandon 

 the old pippin, rennet, and nonpareil, which, notwithstanding the fashionable objections, 

 might with care yet remain the glory of the British orchard. Landlords should look to 

 this. Great outcries are made in some parts of the country against the cowlady (lady- 

 bird, in Kent and the metropolis; golden bug, Essex), as issuing from holes in the 

 beans, the substance of which are devoured ; whilst, on the other hand, this lady is 

 strongly defended, not only as harmless, but friendly to the farmer, by feeding on the 

 aphides. Hops render a sufficient price, considering the improved quantity of the crop. 

 Wool, if not dead, yet sleepeth. 



The wheat market gradually declines, though fine samples command a fair price, and 

 are in constant request. The best wheats seem to be held back, and the markets over- 



