> 8i»4 • Jgncultural Intelligence^ Scotland. 107 



lofs of fliecp, and other deficiencies occafioncd by the cold and wet 

 feafon of I'Ji)^' Till fuch caufe fhall n^aln, in fome dep^rce, Icffen 

 ftocks and produce, it cannot reafonably be cxpc(^f.'d that prices (hall 

 rife, or even keep ai what they are. The extra confumption of fuch 

 times as the prefent, when thoufands are provided with more than 

 double tlieir nfual quantities of food, will equal but a very fmall 

 jncrcafed produce given by a j{ood feafon. This points out, tliat the 

 heads and hands of the inhabitants of this ifland Hionld never ceafe in 

 exerting their genius >-^r.d invention for the fecurifN' of their f^ock and 

 crops a^ainfr changeable and inclement fcafons. This is not to be done 

 fo much by raihng produce upon a greater fcale, as by increafin^ thff 

 ^Sfrowih of early corns, winter vegetables fur (lowing, or which are not 

 fufc pTible of fpring frofts, and fuch management by manure, and the 

 dcftruifiiion of weed?, as will mod likely infure the produce to be be- 

 yond the ordinary, both in quality and quantity, in proportion to the 

 'extent of land in culture. Thefe matteris deferve the attention, not of 

 farmers alone, but even of that fociety of noblemen and others, who, by 

 their laudable exertions to promote the improvement and good of their 

 country, deferve the gratitude of all ranks of their contemporaries and of 

 poRcrity. JaiUicry 19. 



Invernefs'Jlnre ^larterly Report. 



What was dated in laft report refpe<fl;ng the crop, is fully verified 

 by fai5b, it being now afcertained that both corn and draw are lefs 

 plentiful than hitherto known in this didvid. All that can be faid In its 

 favour is, that the grain is of good quality, having been well ripened and 

 (aftly harveded. We have already had a good deal of importation from 

 thf-fjuthern diftn<5ls and from. England, and much more will ftill be 

 v.anted before the arrival of next crop. The winter having fet in early, 

 occafioned many farmers to look about Jliarply for provender to their 

 cattle, which is fcarcer than ever 1 witnefled ; and unlefs we have a 

 continuation of open weather, hay and draw mud advance to an enorm- 

 ous price. Wheat is felling at 25s. per boll ; Barley, 263. to 2S3. ; 

 Oats, 24s. to 25s. per boll of five firlots ; Oatmeal, 24s. to 26s. per 

 boll of rsine ftone ; Bear- meal, iSs. to 19s. per boll, of ten done ; Bar- 

 ley and Oat« tviih fodder have already been fold at 50s. per boll ; the 

 latter per boll of five firlots ; and Hay is. 8d. to 2s. per done, of 24 lib. 

 avoirdupois. 



Our turnip crop being very indifferent, not half the ufual number of 

 cattle were put to the dake ; conftqueutly the butcher market mufl: 

 be fcantily fupplied at the latter end of fpring. At prefent. Beef, 

 in retail, fellg from 6d. to 8d. ; Mutton, 6d per lib. Araderdam. — 

 The wages of journeymen mafons, lad fumaier and autumn, were i6s. 

 to 20s. per week ; Carpenters io«. to 12s. ; Labourer?, 73. 6d. to 99, 

 If the grand Caledonian canal, and the intended roads and bridgei 

 gp on next feafon, wages will of courfc rife confiderably. With 

 a view to the Cm^iJ-trade^ f?venty-five acres of arable grouad have 



be€« 



