/12 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



below an average, but much of it fine and weighty in quality. The pulse 

 crops, both beans and peas, are much below an average^, being on too many 

 farms scarcely worth the labour and expense of harvesting. There are, 

 however, many fine samples to be found of both. Potatoes, on the whole, 

 are said not to amount to more than half a crop, but with favourable excep- 

 tions, and the quality often superior. Mangel wurzel, a small quantity in 

 the country, and the article getting out of repute. Another change in this, 

 our unsteady climate, since September, when the grass was burned to the 

 root; alternate showers and favourable growing weather have produced a fine 

 stock of fresh autumnal grass, which will prove a great saving of hay to the 

 stock-farmer. Seed-time, for the new crop, has been equally fortunate and 

 successful, as the harvest of the wheats never had a more beautiful green and 

 flourishing aspect than at the present season. They have generally shot up 

 early, a strong and healthy plant proving the general goodness of the seed, 

 but with strange accounts from a few parts, of a failure of the plant, from 

 the seminal virtues being destroyed by the unguarded use of arsenic in the 

 steeping, with the view of preventing smut, as though the perpetual sudden 

 variations between heat and cold, moisture and drought, were not sufficient in 

 themselves to produce that disease, in despite of all that could be effected by 

 a remedy used so many months before hand ; a case somewhat analagous to 

 a man's taking a medicine in October, in order to prevent a cold or rheuma- 

 tism which might otherwise occur in the next year's July. This is not said 

 to decry the custom of steeping seed, or even the prudent use of arsenic, how- 

 ever, with very different expectations. It is said in a few parts, that less 

 wheat has been sown during this than in any late season, and the reason as- 

 signed is the high price of barley and its ready sale, thence the most advan- 

 tageous crop. But this may, or must be, a mere temporary advantage, and 

 for the most part the old opinion prevails that the quantity of wheat in- 

 creases yearly. There seems to be an old dispute lately revived, as to the 

 proper month for sowing wheat ; one party standing up for September, the 

 other stifly insisting on the preference due to November. No doubt, but the 

 quality and situation of the soil must form an important consideration ; but, 

 as a general question, we have ever been the advocates and practisers of early 

 sowing, whether in autumn or spring. Alas ! the distress of the farmers speaks 

 too plainly to be either questioned or denied. The Oxfordshire newspapers lately 

 announced upwards of thirty sales of farming stock in one week, and nearly 

 thirty farms to be let ; as might be expected, the stock and farming imple- 

 ments were sold at ruinous prices. 



The stout and fat cattle market is somewhat lower, sheep holding their 

 price. As to pigs, they have suffered a very sudden and heavy depreciation ; 

 in fact, are nearly unsaleable at any price, occasioned, in some parts, mate- 

 rially by Irish superabundant importations. Horses, the superior few ex- 

 cepted, have fallen much below the price of former days, and for very obvious 

 reasons, are not probable to rally. 



The dead Markets, by the carcase, per stone, of 8lbs. Beef, 2s. 2d. to 



3s. 6d. Mutton, 2s. 4d. to 3s. 8d. Lamb, . Veal, 3s. 4d. to 4s. 4d. 



Pork, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 4d. 



Corn Exchange 40s. to 60s. Barley, 26s. to 35s. Oats, 16s. to 25s. 

 Hay, 60s. 84s. Clover ditto, 75s. to lOo's. Straw, 24s. 33s. 



Coal Exchange Coals in the Port, 15s. to 21s. per ton, delivered to the 

 consumer at an addition of 9s. to 12s. per ton. 



Game at Leadenhall Market Grouse, 7s. to 8s. a brace. Pheasants, 7s. 

 to 8s. a brace. Birds, 5s. Hares, great plenty, 4s. each. Wild ducks, 8s. 

 Widgeons, 6s. and Teal, 3s. 6d. the couple. Woodcocks, 8s. and Snipes, 

 3s. 6d. a couple. Golden Plover, 3s., common. Is. 6d, a couple. Wild 

 Rabbits, from 8s. to 12s. per dozen. 



Middlesex, Nov. 25, 1833. /*' ~<V20pr^C 



rro ncn 10/10 



