lis 



jigrlcuhut'al InteUigence — Ettglatipi. Feb. 



Owing to the improvements carrying on in the fens, and the number 

 of men employed in the army and voUinteer corps, a fcarcity of hands 

 }\as been lately experienced, and the value of labour has of co'ixfe in- 

 creafed. Farm labourers receive 2s. per day In winter, 33. and 3s. 6d. 

 in fummer. Carpenters 3s. to 4'^, ; d[)prentices 2s. to 5s. Mafons 3s, 

 6d. ; all without board. y*'/'- ^^' 



FJcx ^mrterly Report. 



SixcE laft report, the wheat has afTumed a fine appearance ; but many 

 people, ir is to be feared, h;ive faHen into the error of fowing too thick 

 in this favourable feafon. In the autumn of 1S02, wheat was generally 

 fown very late, and in many inftances an extra quantity of feed was 

 not allowed — without reflcAing that late fown wheat haa not that oj>. 

 portunity o^ Jlubb'ing enjoyed by that d.^pofited earlier. In the year 

 1803, where this was not attended to, the crop, in m.iny I.ilhnces, 

 tfpecially upon poor lands, having proved- thin and dtTicient, more l^ed 

 vas given than rcq'.'ifue in fudi a genial and temperate feafon. Pc-rhaps 

 they will find the effedts of it in harvell ; for we always obferve early ft>wti 

 vhcat, when too thick in the firll part of the year, turn out very thin 

 and weak when ready for the fickle. Tares look remarkably well, and 

 promife an abundance ; perhaps owing to the opportunity there was of 

 fowing them early ; for it is a maxim with mod i.{Ood farnierjto put them 

 i:)to the ground immediately after ha:/^ll, if pofTible. S3me keep a 

 plough at work during harveft, to prep-^ve the land fuiliciently eai'y for 

 their reception. Clovers look well and iuxuiiant. The millers no long- 

 er complain of a deficiency of water, having received a, mofl copious 

 fupply within ihefe laft two months. There has not been fo much at a 

 time for three years pall, though field labour has been confiderably re- 

 tarded thereby. A few fences and ditches are occafionally made, but 

 tlie chief employ for hufbandmen at prefent is thrqfiiing. A dry froil 

 is much wanted for various purpofes of agriculture, particularly for the 

 effential operation of carrying manure upon the lands. The prices of 

 wheat with us are very different, the qualities being more variable thaa 

 Tifual, owing to the blights and mildews of lail fummer. 



Where work is done by the day, io>=. per v/eck is the gcneVal rate, 

 unlefs clofe to the metropolis, where it is higher. Upon large farms, 

 it is in fome plages the cuftom to board two men and a cow-boy. The 

 head man has from 8 to 12 guineas, the under nian from 5 to 7 guineas, 

 and a boy from 2 to 4 guineas. Many barracks have lately been, eredt- 

 ed in the county, whicli makes the wages of carpenters and bricklayers 

 very high ; not lefs than from 3s, to Cm-, a day is given by the builders ; 

 but, independent of them, carpenters charge 18s. per week, bricklayers 

 17s. Mafons will earn from 4s. to 5?. per day. Poor-rates, for thia 

 lad quarter, in the parifli of Bockiug, are 6s- 6d. per pound of valua- 

 tion. The mills and mochintjs, which fincc the la!l war have been in- 

 troduced by the manufadtuvers into this diibift from Yorkfhire, and 

 \Nhich were ufed chiefly in the manuf.ctnrins" of baize, arc now cmploy- 



