214 Monthly Agricultural Report. [FEB. 



this description, folded on turnips, standing constantly up to the mid-leg in vret and dirt, 

 their fleeces sodden through with the rains and heavy dews, without a dry lock of wool 

 upon back or belly for weeks together ; at the same time) no shepherd is unaware of the 

 fatal effects of superfluous moisture, whether external or internal in the food, to sheep, 

 deer, and rabbits. There are rational insanities (cumratione insanire), of all descriptions, 

 in this wicked world, and these are of them. The exposure of creatures in this way, is 

 as inhuman as unprofitable ; and far more often practised at the dictation of custom 

 than of necessity. We could point out flocks which at this time are ten shillings a-head 

 worse than when first folded, exclusive of the risk of confirmed rot. The incipient 

 disease, timely attended to, however, may be stayed ; not indeed by the custom of silly 

 noodles, who run gadding after the dangerous hodge-podges, or chipin-porridges, of 

 wily quacks, but by instantly changing the lair and food of the animals from baneful 

 moisture to their natural and salutiferous dry regimen. The true doctor in this case, is 

 the homestall, shelter, and a judicious mixture of diy food, pollard, or corn, if necessary, 

 with the accustomed loose and vegetable. Many of the larger cattle are in a poor and 

 unthrifty state; indeed the prospect for spring, is at no rate inviting. Every farmer 

 oua;ht to be prepared for the atmospheric balance , a counterpoise may well be expected 

 in Ihe spring or the summer, to this long course of south-western winds and winter 

 warmth. A sudden frost would render worse than useless, or totally destroy all the 

 common turnips, and even damage considerably the rutabaga. 



On sound and good soils, the wheats still appear universally fine and luxuriant, indeed far 

 too forward. On the opposite, much plant is lost ; the vegetation shows a sickly colour, 

 and the slug has been particularly active. In course, on those patches or breadths which 

 the floods have covered, the crop is destroyed. Tares are reported a general good crop, 

 and great breadths are upon the land. Fallowing, carting, and the various operations 

 proper to the season, are necessarily backward on all lands unfavourably situated ; on 

 those of an opposite description, never more forward. Of potatoes there is a full 

 national supply, notwithstanding occasional complaints of a deficient crop. Cider is 

 generally retailed, by license, at the lowest price known of late years, in the fruit districts. 

 By accounts from some parts, the apprehension seems to be entertained of a deficiency 

 of sheep and cattle in the country, which do not seem very compatible with other 

 accounts, or with the profusion of the late Christmas supply. On the other hand, wheat 

 and oats are styled a drug in the market, and all country produce below prime cost. 

 But of oats, we never grow a sufficiency for the national consumption ; and who shall 

 regulate the import, that it be neither too little nor too much ? It is but too evident that 

 the people cannot afford a higher price for their bread, than they at present pay ; not less 

 so that, but for the aid of the bonded wheat, and the influence of some expected change 

 in the corn laws, wheat would have been at this time at a much higher price ; and not a 

 little problematical, whether a higher price would have brought with it a better ability to 

 purchase. The price of wool has actually advanced in some few places, but time is 

 required to run off the immense speculated stocks. The old tale of " want of money 

 in the country," well known to our forefathers, and a never failing periodical in all 

 plentiful times, and dull markets, proceeds now from various quarters. But there is no 

 deficit of either population or commodities, nor of circulating medium for all regular 

 purposes of trading intercourse, although, perhaps, the means of speculation and holding 

 up commodities, are neither so obvious or facile as formerly. Great complaints are 

 made of the high price of cart-colts and pigs ; why not then rather breed than import ? 

 The determination of the associated farmers, to wear none but cloth made of British 

 wool, not much befitting the circumstances of a great commercial country, is strongly 

 ridiculed by the London tailors and drapers, many individuals of whom cut up in a 

 year more cloth than the wool of a whole county suffices to furnish. These vagaries 

 have their day, and are heard of no more. 



The country letters seem of a perplexing variety ; but, on due consideration, such d r s- 

 crepancy arises spontaneously out of the nature of the case. From the rich and fertile 

 districts, we hear of great crops, corn rising well to the flail, sheep and cattle safe and 

 well fed, and most of the labourers employed at the usual rate of wages. In Lincoln- 

 shire, twelve shillings per week are given ; and from most parts a notable circumstance, 

 considering the state af our agricultural population the scarcity of female servants is 

 made matter of complaint, with remarks tacked to it, showing a marked hankering after 

 the prejudices of by-gone days. From other and too many quarters, the intelligence is 

 dreadful and alarming a tenantry discontented with their landlords, whom they accuse 

 of screwing their tenants up to the last farthing, and of being utterly insensible to the 

 meaning of the old adage, ** live and let live." In turn the labourers are said to entertain 

 much the same sentiments of their masters, the farmers ; whence arise constant disputes, 

 bickering, and ill blood, among those classes. The labourers regularly employed cannot 

 live on their earnings, and the miserable supernumeraries, turned out to starve on road 

 work, are in a state of desperation. Beggary and destitution are the foul sources of 

 vice and crime ; and what else can we expect from these desperadoes, whose passions 

 and resentments are charged to th highest pitch, and in whom patience, reasoning, and 



