1804. A^ricUlttiral InteWgena-- Scotland* I37 



eaufed many fields to be harrowed rather wet. Barley feed is begun ; 

 but a proportion of peas and oats ftlll remains to be fown. 



This unfavourable feafon has occafioned a confiderable lofs of both 

 CWC8 and lambs ; and, from the backwardnefs of vegetation, the lambf 

 are but poorly fupplied with milk. Young clovers are tliin and weak, 

 and turnip (from being a ^ood deal fpoilt) was in many cafes exhaullcd 

 by the firll of April. Much benefit has been derived from ruia haga, 

 which, as it prefents the only rcfource that can be depended on at this 

 feafon< certainly merits a more general cultivation. 



There has been no demand as yet for ftock of any kind to the Eng- 

 lifli paftures. Fat markets, which continued pretty tleady through the 

 winter, have been rather glutted fince the beginning of this month, 

 from the fcarcity of keep. This eircomdance has aifo tended to en- 

 hance the value of grafs enclofures, which have been letting from 25 to 

 50 per cent, higher than lall year. 



Our corn markets have all along been kept rather full for the demand ; 

 a circumftance which has probably arifen from the neceffity of thrafiiing 

 a regular fupply of draw for the wintering ftock ; as the ftraw, from its 

 fhortnefs, has this feafon yielded more grain than ufual to its bulk. 

 Prices kept gradually declining till the approach of feed time, fince 

 which they have been upon the advance. The (lack-yards already begin 

 to wear a vacant appearance, and will in moil cafes be quite empty by* 

 the term of Whitfunday. Prices at prefent are — Wheat from 33s. to 

 35s.; Barley 159. to i8s. ; Common Oats 15s. to 178. ; Potato Oats 

 for feed, i 7s. to 19s. ; Peas 21s. to 22P. ; Early do. for feed, 24s. to 

 25s., per boll of fix bufhels. Good Beef is retailing at 8d., and Mut- 

 ton at 7^d. per lib. Dutch, 



Mafons wages are at prefent from r2s. to 14s. ; Carpenters from los. 

 to 133. *, and Labourers from 9s. to los. per week ; but from the ex- 

 travagant rates of laft fummer, mafons feem to cxpecft a rife of wages 

 about Whitfunday. Jpril zoth. 



^lueeddale ^larterly Report* 



The whole turnip crop of this diftrift was confumed without Igfs, 

 and the ftock fkeep continued in good condition till the firft of March. 

 The badncfs of the weather fince that time has however been much a- 

 galnft them, and occafions great apprehenfion of the lambing feafon 

 which is now commencing. At this time (April 19th) there Is fcarce 

 a fprig of grafs on our lovveft grounds, and the hill paftures are as dead 

 as turf J fo that It is hardly poflible the ewes can yield milk fufficient for 

 fupporting their lambs, unlcfs a f^u'ourable chatige foon takes place. A 

 coiifiderable dcpreffion of price has occurred in this article, both at 

 (hews and private fales : the graziers having fnfTeied much laft year, 

 proceeded with caution in making purchates. Butcher meat is fiom 

 7d. to 8d. ; but as the felling price of lean ftock is not proportionable, 

 thcte muft be large profits fomewherc In the ftages betwixt the feeder 

 and confumcr. 



It 



