• [ 9S J 



BRANCH ir. 



AGHICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 



At the conclusion of our last volume, rural operatiofTTi 

 of ever J kind appeared, to be in a forwiird state. Wheat 

 Jiad been got sown under favourable circiim3tanccs, and to a- 

 greater extent than the variableness of our climate generally al- 

 lows. Ploughing for spring cr-op9 was far advanced, a tract of 

 uncommon fine Vveather having ensued after the conclusion of 

 harvest, Vv'hich permitted every branch of field work to be ex- 

 ecuted in a more, superior stile than usufJIj can be attained to 

 in the latter part of autumn, or in t]ii: first of the winter months. 

 The progress made of late has however been small. Storms 

 <if frost and snow prevailed in December. January lias been 

 wet, rarely giving" two days of similar weather together. In- 

 fact, the bowels of the earth are no^w more comi3letely satu- 

 rated with ■ moisture than at any time during the four past 

 years. 



Under these circumstances, the thrashing of grain- has pro- 

 ceeded with vigour, and full supplies liave been poured into* 

 every market. We-are not here to enquire whether this vi- 

 gour has been stimulated by official recommendations, or ex- 

 cited by the powerful influence of alarm, w^hich,. in certain 

 cases, operates as strongly upon" men in the field, as upon 

 cliildren in the nursery. Perliaps these causes together with- 

 the scantiness of straw have contributed to throw a greater 

 supply into- tlie market than the extent of the crop warranted,, 

 or the demand of the' country required ; which ultimately may 

 produce consequences^ not beneficial to the public. In some 

 districts we understand the stack-yard's are already much dimi- 

 nished. In few of tlicm was the bulk originally equal to that 

 of lormer years. For wheat, a regular demand seems to pre- 

 vail ; but barley may be reckoned in some measure an unsale- 

 able article every where, and has been sold' for much less 

 money than it can be cultivated at. Oats, notwithstandinor 

 their general failure last season, have also fallen in price,, 

 though still of greater valuecomparatively than barley. Pease 

 H!id beans maintain a kind of equality,, having fluctuated less 

 than any other grain. "^^ 



Very little' alteration has as yet appeared" in the cattle and' 

 3heep markets, but the quality of tlie dead articles presented,. 

 is, in many instances (mutton especially) of an inferior' *(ie- 

 seription. The faikire of turnips formerly mentioned,, limited.'. 



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