24^ \Agrtcutiural LitelJigmce — Scotland. May* 



time part, perhaps it may be admitted that there is little more than one 

 half ot the ufual quantity of gi'ain within the county, the town and 

 port of Leith inchided. 



The butcher markets have hitherto been fuppKed beyond expectation ; 

 but it is evident, that owing to the latenefs of the feafon, many half- 

 fed animals that winild Iiave been fniiflird off with grafs, have been 

 brought to the lhairi[)leR prematurely, which, in the long-run, m.ay oc- 

 cafion H want. It is true, indeed, that the dlflillery cattle will fill up 

 a gap in the article of beef; but it is apprehended that mutton mufi 

 ver)' foon become fcarce. 



Ewes with lamb have fallen from 25 to 30 per cert, below the extra- 

 vagant prices of lalt year. Beef fells at from 9s. to los. per ftone, 

 fnik ; the quartern loaf 8d., and oat-meal at i6d. per peck of 8 lib., 

 17 T oz. to the hb.— y^pril 23. 



Eaft'Lothiau ^tarterly Report. 



Since lall report, the weather has been remarkably unlleady, of 

 courfe hoftile to the w(;rk of the feafon. Some patches of \vheat were 

 lown in Februai-y, a few oats upon dry clover leas in March ; but the 

 great bulk of fpriiig feed was put into the ground during the two firfi. 

 weeks of Apnl ; much when the land was not in good cafe. Oat 

 land, on the whole, harrowed better than could have been expefted ; 

 but to drill beans, was a difficult bufmefs. As the weather continues 

 wet and unfettled, there is caufe to dread that much of this lafl men- 

 tioned grain will perifh, or vegetate irregularly. 



A greater fcarcity of young graffes has not been obferved fince the 

 firft introduction of clovers : even the plants which remain, are weak and 

 ill-col6ured, promifnig but a poor return to the farmer. Many tares 

 \rlll be fown, as horfe-feed, to make up for the deficiency of clovers ; 

 and increafed rents have been given for old paftares, by thofc who had 

 Hock on hand. Rural matters do not at prefent afford a comfortable 

 profpcft ; but it is unneceffaiy, in this llage, to offer opinions upon the 

 Oonfequences, feeing that a return of genial weather miglit effedlually 

 refute them. 



The grain market has, for three weeks pafl, advanced confiderably : 

 even the barley purchafers have difplayed an alertnefs not witnelTed for 

 tiiefe fifteen months. Good wheat per boll, fomething above four Win- 

 rhcfler bufnels, (fay 3 /-cr cent.), fells from 29s. to 31s. 6d., which is 

 higher than the beft of Mark-Lane. Oats have alfo l)een in confiderable 

 demand, efpecially thofe of the potato variety, many of which, from 

 the latenefs of the feafon, have been ufed for feed. The butcher mar- 

 ket has not varied much, though the quantity of fat flock in this dif- 

 trici;, except with diflillers, is veiy trifling. 



The propeily-tax is generally affelTed ; but as accounts are not yet 

 traiifmilted, few people know upon what principles the affeffments are 

 made. The year 1 802 has been taken as the bafis of afTtffing landed 

 property ; and wlien leafcs had been poffeffed for more than feven years, 

 frcfli valuation's have been made. Thcfe valuations have not, however, 



been 



