112 Agricultural Report. [JAN. 



of which it will be to their obvious advantage to throw out of culture. Wheat 

 continues to rise gradually at market, and the quantity of home grown is gene- 

 rally small ; so premature and erroneous was the public calculation on the late 

 crop. In the poor land counties, little has been hitherto threshed, beyond the 

 demand for seed, and the surplus, which want of money must soon bring to 

 market, is reported to be low to a disheartening degree ; a still advancing price 

 must be expected. Thus the country can ill afford the waste and destruction 

 which has been made. Barley, though a defective crop, is heavy of sale, as are 

 oats from their superior plenty. Pulse hold their price, with an inclination to 

 advance. Wheat seed has been fortunately got in, throughout the great corn 

 county of Norfolk, where the superior culture of the dibble has prevailed to a great 

 extent: subject, however, to (the usual disadvantage of that mode,) insufficient 

 clearing of the soil from weeds, which can only be effected through wide 

 rows. 



The markets for store cattle are on the advance, and good wedders and ewes 

 but the markets have been glutted with ordinary and unsound mutton : of the 

 latter, lots have been burned in Smithfield. Great complaints from Wales, of the 

 low prices of stock, where pigs of six months are selling at four or five shillings 

 each. The price of store stock has been there calculated throughout the summer 

 and autumn, at forty per cent., in proportion, below the price of corn. Gene- 

 rally, however, in the country, complaints are made that fat stock has produced 

 no profit, and that the prospect for winter feeding is discouraging. Horses for 

 saddle and quick draught, are lower than during many years past. Wool continues 

 rather on the decline, the buyers in the first months of its revival, having so 

 amply stocked themselves. It will probably start again in the spring. The 

 whole duty on hops for the present year, amounts to 153,125 18s. 6d. The trade 

 continues very dull, with little or no change in the price. The thirty-second 

 anniversary of the London Cattle Show has just passed. The exhibition consisted 

 of the usual articles, and the only novelty which occurred, were the extension of 

 it to four days, and the distribution of gold and silver medals. Except on the 

 last day, it was not so numerously attended as formerly; and, for some years past, 

 few men of rank have been seen there. 



Public opinion has gone generally against the farmers, whose complaints formerly 

 were not deemed just ; but their justice has been of late too pointedly proved ! 

 Their losses have been progressive from year to year ; their returns, instead of 

 affording them a living, being inadequate to the expences of culture, and the 

 payment of rent, tithes, poors' rates, and taxes. These must undoubtedly be 

 reduced, and that to a considerable extent, before British farming can flourish as 

 heretofore. This necessity, ultimately pressing on the landlords, will compel 

 their votes for the lowest p'ossible reduction of taxes. Tithes seem to present the 

 greatest difficulty ; no mode of commutation hitherto proposed, appearing to be 

 satisfactory, and tl 



the general opinion for their entire abolition gradually gaining 

 ground. A letter, however, has lately appeared in the County Chronicle, with 

 the averment that the farmer profits from forty to cent, per cent., by the 

 present tithing system ; yet with such notable acquisitions the farmer cannot 

 live. 



Never were complaints better grounded, or more truly affecting, than those of 

 the agricultural labourers. They have been oppressed, neglected, starved, in a 

 land of superabundance, flowing from their own labour. But whatever the farmers 

 may have to answer for originally, it has been obviously out of their power, of 

 late, to increase labourers' wages, or even afford employment for the numbers 

 depending upon it. This can only be effected by the landlords and the legis- 

 lature. 



It is revolting to find a considerable part of the public, safe and comfortable at 

 home by their fire-sides, defending the conduct of the peasantry, since it must l>e t 

 productive ultimately of public benefit thus, as of old, the end sanctifies the 

 means. The cry against threshing machines is hollow and absurd ; were farming 

 productive, the tenantry would be able to employ a fair complement of labourers, 

 and yet keep their machines, since threshing with the flail is by no means a 

 favourite branch of labour with the husbandmen. In reality, to talk of the disuse 

 of machinery in this manufacturing country, is to talk without book. 



But it is satisfactory to conclude, that effective measures are in operation, for 

 ameliorating the condition of the whole body of the peasantry. ^ 



Smi&fteldE&iS, 3s. to 4s. Mutton, 2s, lOd. to 4s. 6d Veal, 4s. 6d. to 5s. Cd. 



Pork, 3s. 8d. to 5s. Hough fat, 2s. lOd. 



Corn Exchange. Wheat, 56s. to 76s. Barley, 28s. to 53s Oats, 19s. to 32. 



London 41b. loaf, lOd Hay, 45s. to 105s. Clover ditto, 50s. to 110s. Straw, 

 30s. to 36s. 



. Coals in the Pool, 30s. to 42s per chaldron. 

 Middlesex, Dec. 20th. 



