i8o4» Agricultural Inielligence — Scotland, 1 09 



plants of clover have been benefited by the rains, and the wheats ap- 

 pea:, in every place, ftrong and vigorous. The winter has alfo proved 

 favourahle to fuch as vi'ere appre^en^lve of their fodder not Iiulding out. 

 It was gcnerallv allowed that the crop in this quarter v^as of far lefs 

 bulk than ordinary, but p^^opk differed widely in opinion as to the 

 quaniiry of grain it would yield. Though the markets are jcift now 

 glutted, and prices on the declining hand, thefe things cannot be confi- 

 dered ?a fulTicieni; proofs that the crop is more produftive than cuflom- 

 ary ; there being rcafon to believe that if it had come to ir.arket \\\ a 

 manner proportional to the quantity on 'hand, no ilagnation would have 

 been felt. Some months mull how^ever pafs over, before this obferva- 

 tion can be fully verified. In the mean time, the growers muft feel 

 that the prices of the prefent day are far (hort of a fair indemnification 

 to them, all things confidered. 



* So far as 1 know, the wages of mafons at prefent average 2S. Cd. per 

 day ; carpenters 23. 3d. ; labourers is. 4d. to is. 8d. Mafon work per 

 piece- — building and preparing mortar 2I. 2S. to 2I. 12s. 6d. per rood ; 

 building and furnlPnlng all materials 61. to 7I. per rood. Ploughmens.' 

 wages 12I. I2S. per annum^ with 6^ bolls of oat m^z\y /np^ fait, and 

 lodging. ' 



Letter from a Farmer near Kelfoy J an, 24, 



* So far as the winter has gone, it h.as proved favourable for farm- 

 ing operations ; ccnfequently, labour is tolerably well advanced. We 

 are now plojughing the ground cleared from turnips, wath a view of 

 preparing it for fpring wheat ; and fome people, during the two or 

 three pail good days, have been fowing that grain. The turnips are 

 lafting longer than their original appearance warranted to expeft, hav- 

 ing grown confiderably fmce the beginning of November. Several fields 

 remain for difpofal in this neighbourhood. 



* The Hack-yards w-ith us were by no means bulky this fcafon, and 

 apprehenfions are entertained that they will be nearly empty at Whit- 

 funday. The crop, however, turns out very produftive to the bulk, 

 and a market is wanting for the quantity that is thrafhed. This has 

 induced feveral farmers to keep off as much as poffible from felling.; 

 but the want of money will prevent this meafure from becoming ge- 

 neral. Our corn merchants fay, they have plenty of commiffions to 

 purchafe, but cannot command ca(h ; which, of courfe, impedes fpe- 

 Culation, and will occafion heavy fales till the prefent glut is removed. 

 At this time, Wheat is felhng from 3CS, to 33s. ; Barley, 14s. ; Oats, 

 14s.; Peas, 20s. to 2 IS.; all per Berwick boll of fix bufliels. No 

 beans have yet been prefented. 



* For fome time paft, our grafs fields have exhibited an amazing- 

 verdure for the feafon of the year ; and perhaps this may afterwai-ds 

 prove hurtful to the fheep ftock that depend upon grafs alone. Markets 

 for fat cattle and flieep are not good, as we have a confiderahle quan- 

 tity of the latter ftrti on hand, whi(yh mull be difpofed of; but it is 



fuppofed 



