1832.] L 127 ] 



MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



THE present, as we observed of the previous month, seldom affords much 

 novelty of agricultural report. On the approach of Spring, the plot will thicken. 

 There has been too much rain during the month, for our heavy lands, already 

 water-logged and sodden ; but on the whole, it has been a mild and favourable 

 autumn for the operations of the season, which, to use a common phrase, are on a 

 full average of forwardness. As to the light and thirsty soils, they continue to 

 enjoy in full measure the benefits conferred upon them during the three or four 

 past years. The early sown wheats are doubtless too forward, and in some danger 

 of exhaustion from their rampant luxuriance ; and that which is still more to be 

 apprehended and regretted,.their almost equal sharers in the soil, the weeds, are also 

 too generally a most magnificent crop. The short time which the seed has required 

 for germination has occasioned the least possible loss. From the excitement 

 of so much watering, joined with the mildness of the weather, with almost 

 constant South-westerly winds, the grasses, both natural and artificial, have ob- 

 viously outrun their strength, and been deprived of a great portion of their nutri- 

 tious power ; and the vetches and winter beans, are so prematurely forward, that 

 they must suffer universally, in the event of a severe frost. The quantity of the 

 sainfoin seed in the S. W. counties makes some amends for deficient quantity. Tre- 

 foil was short in the straw, but the quantity of seed considerable, and where it 

 escaped damage from the rains, the sample good : this we fear is more than can be 

 said generally of the clover and the other grass seeds. In Scotland, perhaps gene- 

 rally, some portion of the wheat sowing will be deferred to the commencement of 

 the new year, latter December being there deemed the worst seed season : yet 

 there remains a strong objection to this practice, in the possible case of a con- 

 tinuous frost. The late wheat crop in Scotland is said to be excellent in quality, 

 but defective in quantity both of corn and straw ; the demand for wheat at market 

 ready. Their barley crop was unusually extensive, from so much failing wheat 

 having been ploughed up, and the land resown with barley. This grain is not so 

 generally discoloured in the North as with us, and the weight superior, amounting 

 to 58 Ibs. per imperial bushel, in the best samples. The grain being sold by weight, 

 the growers are said to derive a considerable advantage in that respect, by their 

 superior method of winnowing. Hay and straw sell at a high price. The 

 Scots, more fortunate than their brethren of the South, in wheat and barley, are 

 far less so with their other crops. Their oats, a principal article, are very defi- 

 cient, quantity and quality pulse unproductive potatoes an inferior crop, not 

 Avell secured turnips materially injured in the first instance by mildew, subse- 

 quently by frost. Many farmers at a late fair sold their turnips at a high price 

 to the drovers, who were unable to dispose of their store cattle. One drover, who 

 had 500 head of cattle, disposed of them at 21. a head less than he had been pre- 

 viously offered. Fat stock of the best quality, being very scarce, rendered high 

 prices. 



Throughout England and Wales the deficient character of the wheat crop with 

 few very favourable exceptions, is too fully and experimentally confirmed ; and 

 the dullness in sale and late decline of price, must be attributed as well to the 

 unusual quantities thrashed for market, as to importation, and it is prospectively 

 ominous that many parts of the country are left almost bare of wheat, whether in 

 the hands of the farmers or millers. Oats are deemed the most productive crop 

 of the year ; beans and peas a failure. That nutritious article, the Swedish turnip, 

 is generally a satisfactory crop, the bulbs remarkably large ; and mangold has 

 proved somewhat beyond expectation in quantity ; where housed dry, of good 

 quality. 



The market prices and demand for store cattle have rather declined since last 

 month ; not so perhaps for fat stock, in some measure, on account of the graziers 

 holding back their beasts on a speculation of superior Christmas prices, in which 

 they suffered considerable disappointment. Sheep have not lately been so quick 

 of sale, but they have suffered no depreciation, obviously from the considerable 

 diminution of the national flock by the rot, which, from the constant moisture of 

 the atmosphere, is unfortunately recommencing on certain unfavourable soils. 

 Pigs gradually advancing. The late demand for milch cows brought many to 

 market and reduced the price. A singular and pleasing account has reached us 

 from some of the dairy counties, that from the vast quantity and full bite of 



