^/^ . Agricultural Intelligence, Feb. 



sheep-feeding very much 3 and the weakness of the food, and 

 wetness of the weather, have prevented those put upon this 

 root, from making the usual improvement. An after scarcity 

 seems inevitable, though it is not an easy matter to say when 

 it may take place. An early spring would aiford the surest 

 relief; but so many of tlie young grasses have either failed, 

 or apTjear to be in so weak a state, that much reliance cannot 

 be placed upon this resource. 



Potatoes threaten to be a scarce article soon, being already 

 not much cheaper per peck than oat-meal ; whereas, in ordi- 

 nary seasons, they rarely exceed one half of its price. Hay, 

 in several districts, is also in much demand, though in others 

 it is comparat-ively plentiful. The bulkiness of the article, 

 and the expence of transporting it to a distance, renders an a- 

 bundance at one place often of little advantage to others. 



Mr ADDINGTON, we learn, intends, shortly after the 

 recess, to move in the Lower House of Parliament, for a Com- 

 mittee to investigate the relative abilities of English and Scot- 

 tish barleys, to pay a tax upon malt ; but we have not heard 

 of any preparations being made by the landholders (who cer- 

 tainly are the persons chiefly interested), to bring forward, to 

 the notice of that Committee, any evidence in support of the 

 just claims of Scotland, to be taxed in an inferior ratio to what 

 js levied in the fertile English counties. We formerly stated 

 that the last crop afforded only partial evidence ; and recom- 

 mended, that recourse should be had to the qualities of 

 preceding years, if the subject v.-as to be investigated upon 

 just and impartial principles- The grain of both countries 

 had greater affinity last year than what may again take place 

 for half a century ; because the singular dryness and tempe- 

 rature of the weather placed the whole island more upon a 

 level than customary, so far as climate was concerned. Still 

 there is a difference to be found ; or how could importers bring 

 down English barley, and llud it a saving article, after de- 

 fraying all charges, unless a greater quantity of saccharine 

 matter could be extracted from the one than the otlicr. An 

 interesting paper on this subject by Dr Keith, will be found in 

 the Miscellaneous department of this Number, p. 49, et seq. 



The proprietors and farmers of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Es- 

 sex, mean also to bring the additional tax of last Session be- 

 fore Parliament, upon another principle ; and we think 

 their arguments are so just, that they can hardly fail to meet 

 with suitable notice. They compJain of tlie tax as execs ,ive ^ 

 depressing agricultiire, and discoiiiagi.i^ tht cultivation 



