l8o4- Airricultural Intelligence — Scotland. 235 



We feci a fcarcity of good hands for agricultiiral purpofes, many of 

 them liaving been Lallottcd for tlie mihtiu and army of referve ; and 

 thofc who remain are for the mofl part vohinteers, and taken un at 

 leail one, and often two days \n the week at drill. ^Vagcs for fann 

 fervants have advanced coniiderahly w'tliin thefe few years. From 61. 

 to 81. a year, fix bolls of inea}, about the fixth of an acre of ground 

 planted witli potatoes, a houfe, and peats for firing, or 12s. in lieu of 

 the latter, are given ; but, in many inilances, the money wages is mucli 

 lower, probably only 3I. or 4I. a year, with permiflion to malt a little 

 barley pnimttly ; and this is torjfidered of fuch value, that maflcrs who 

 give this indulgence have generally the choice of the bed hands. 



It may not be improper here to obferve, that fince the high duties 

 were laid upon the licenfed ftills, a great change, for tlie a\ orfe, has 

 taken place in this diftrid. Illegal ilills were then comparatively few j 

 but fince that period, the illicit trade has been carried on to an extent 

 never before known, and to the almoil total exclufion of the fair trader. 

 .^pnl 14. 



Letter fiom a Farmer near Kflfo^ J.pr'il i6. 



* For fourteen days pafl, we have experienced as bad weatlier for 

 feed.\\ork as can pofubly happen, and fiom the falls of fnow and rain, 

 the ground lias been kept confiantly wet, arui in an unfit Hate for the 

 operations of the feafon. The cold winds have deilroyed all vegeta- 

 tion, and as our turnips are nearly gone, the fiocks will Toon be in a 

 dillreffed Hate, even in the moft favoured fituations'. Cattle arc eating 

 up the ftraw very fall j confequeritly tiie ilack-yards arc become much 

 thinner than ufuaL 



' The grain market is advancing fomething in price, and cattle and 

 fheep have of late fold tolerably well. Grafs parks have let, and are 

 daily letting, at higher rents than given laft feafon, which is owing to 

 the want of turnips and other food for our flicep. Potatoes are alfo 

 rifing in value. 



* The property a6l fcems imperfectly underftood ; nor is this to be 

 v>fOiidered at, feeing the confufion of its arrangement. Wo have been 

 called to return the value of our farms, if poflcfTed above feven vcars ; 

 "bat no mention is made whether the rent to be affeiled is for 1802 or 

 1803 ; though, to be fure, this may be a material objcd to individual- 

 placed under certain circumilances. ' 



Selkirk ^larterly Report, 



Nearly the whole of March and the current month has given mofl 

 unfavourable weather, being generally froily, and, at "times, accompa- 

 nied with heavy (bowers of fnow. This rendered the lands fo wet 

 when the froft retreated, that it was impradicable to proceed with feed- 

 work at the ufual time. Sowing, however, was partially begun in th^ 

 fkdl week of April ; but little was done till the £econd week, and evea 

 ^bya the ground was by no means in proper condition. The feafou 



being 



