1828.] Monthly Agricultural Report. 551 



indeed, for labouring men, unless accompanied by good solid flesh meat. This is best 

 exemplified by the well-known fact of the superior labouring power of an Irishman, in this 

 country, over that which he possesses in his own. Potatoes are a most valuable and useful 

 root, in truth, a second bread ; but their nutritive powers, and various qualities, have been 

 always greatly overrated by speculation and prejudice. With dry and warm weather, the 

 fallows will soon be in a fine tilth for turnip sowing. The vast quantity of turnips not 

 wanted for cattle, thence saved for seed, will render that article of little market worth, next 

 season. 



More inquiries, from different parts of the country, about salt and saltpetre, as though 

 their use, as a manure, were a novelty. But substances for manure, and modes of culture, 

 are fashionably introduced, experimented, laid aside, forgotten, and, in process of time, re- 

 introduced. Mangel-wurtzel, however, bids fair to become a permanent culture, and, in 

 reality, is working a revolution in country affairs, and probable enough to supersede the 

 use of all other roots ; and, by its abundant produce, to put a fortunate period to all diffi- 

 culty of winter supply, that grand opprobrium, in the farming system, of most of our grand- 

 fathers. The quality of this famous root, however, is certainly overrated. In that respect, 

 it is inferior to parsnips and carrots, if not even to rutabaga. The great and incomparable 

 excellence of mangel-wurtzel, consists in its vast produce, its little difficulty in respect of 

 soil, and its resistance of the fly from the substance of its foliage. The clays in this coun- 

 try, and, we believe, on all clay soils, have worked very rough, and almost impracticable 

 for barley sowing. We think that barley on such soils, excepting in particular situations, 

 where this article is in demand, has always been too much in course ; and that oats, so 

 much of which is imported, is far the more profitable crop ; clay land barley being gene- 

 rally an ordinary sample of inferior figure in price. The circumstances of the labourers 

 seem, generally, somewhat improved ; and, after all, it probably has cost the tenantry more 

 to keep the surplus labourers and their families in a state of idleness and wandering, than 

 it would have done to keep them regularly employed on their farms, in various profitable 

 improvements ; among which, the extirpation of couch and weeds of all kinds, on too 

 many farms, perhaps whole districts, would amply repay the labour. Many an honest 

 farmer pays two rents instead of one, by favour of his weeds. 



In the famous corn county of Essex, according to the opinion of a respectable land agent, 

 with whom we have lately conversed, farming is in a considerable state of prosperity, and 

 the same may be said of Scotland generally, where the Associations have wisely deter- 

 mined to adopt the imperial measure, which, by an unaccountable legislative blunder, was 

 not made imperative. The glut of wool is not yet dispersed, although never before was 

 there so great a quantity of that precious commodity worked up in Britain as in the last 

 twelve months. Such another manufacturing year must raise the price of wool ; neverthe- 

 less, English clothing wool can never come into competition with the foreign, so long as 

 we decline taking those measures which ensure to the foreigner such a commanding supe- 

 riority in point of quality. Complaint is made of the low price of sheep, but the sale of 

 lambs is brisk in London ; it has, perhaps, occurred, that sheep stock are more plentiful 

 than was expected, and that their condition only was affected by the rotting season of last 

 year. Other stock bear good prices, especially milch cows, pigs, and horses. Of the latter, 

 good ones are worth any money almost that can be asked, and their extreme scarcity shows 

 the great defect of our breeding system of late years. Some conjurer has published his 

 notion, that all our best horses are sent abroad ; and he is thence anxious for a renewal 

 and enforcement of the ancient legislative prohibition, unconscious that export and ready 

 sale are the truest and most powerful incentives to improvement of the breed. 



There now reihains no doubt of the Corn Bill passing, and of the establishment of a 

 free and open trade in the staff of life, too lately discovered to be matter of high political 

 prudence in every country, but in an especial degree necessary in a manufacturing and 

 commercial one. Such a strenuous opposition, worthy of the best causes, has been made 

 to this measure, that, in all probability, the scale of duties will be found too high. But 

 the great object is the establishment of the principle of free trade in corn ; and, 

 should any defects in the scale be subsequently discovered, the remedy will be obvious and 

 tasy. It has not been hitherto noticed ; but the high rate of duty must have the effect, 

 perhaps not a disadvantageous one, of keeping the light, coarse, and ordinary sorts of 

 foreign wheat out of our markets, where such must experience so low a price, as to make 

 no return of profit, were they grown for nothing. 



Smithjield.Reef, 3s. 6d. to 4s. lOd.-Mutton, 4s. to 4s. lOd.-Veal, 4s. lOd. to 5s. 10d. - 

 Pork, 4s. 8d. to 6s. Od (Small dairy fed) 6s. 6d Lamb, 7s. to 7s. 2d. Raw fat, 2s. 5d. 



Corn Exchange Wheat, 42s. to 72s Barley, 28s. to 40s Oats, 17s. to 32s. 

 Bread, 9|d. the fine 4 Ib. loaf. Hay, 70s. to 105s. Clover ditto, 80s. to 120s. 

 Straw 27s. to 40s. in demand. 



Coals in the Pool, 29s. 3d. to 42s. per chaldron. 



Middlesex, April 21, 1828. 



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