244 A-gr'iculiuyal Intelligence — England. . May 



and fodder -is fretting fh^rt with many. At the fame tim^, there is 3 

 fiifBcient (lock of hay to be bought at a moderate price, it being fold at 

 from 2I. I OS. to 4I. per ton, accordlnjr to quality and fituation. 



* The lall week of February and the firil week of March were dry 

 a*'id favourable, during which period moft of the peas, beans and oats, 

 were fown ; fince that time we had a month of wetnefs, when but little 

 work was done. The weather is now very fine, and we are bufy with 

 the barley feed. I believe there will be lefs of that grain fown in this 

 part than ufual, the low price being againft it. Unluckily for the work 

 tif this neighbourhood, they have called out the volunteers, which confift 

 chiefly of fanners fons and fervants ; and many farmers are at a lofs to go 

 ,o\\ witli their labour. Mofl of the wheat looks well, as far as I have 

 feen. There was but little fpring wheat fown with us this year. 



* Opr markets are rather worfe than otherways, particularly for 

 wheat, which is at prefent a drug ; and none but very prime famplea 

 will fell, prices from 14s. to i6s. for 168 pounds. Barley and oats 

 have remained ftationary for feveral months ; but they have gone off; 

 and the rick-yards feen almofl clear, except for wheat. Cattle con- 

 tinued on hand through the winter ; but they now begin to move, and 

 at our laie fairs have fold better than was exped^ed, tliough at \o\vtx 

 prices than for the laft two years : it is the general opinion they will ad- 

 vance as the grafs comes. Ewes and lambs fell well. I fee little dif- 

 ference in the price of them now and lall year. Pigs ftill keep very 

 low ; but there is not fo :r.any bred lately as has been. A great part 

 «f the barley has been confumed by pigs and cactle lail winter ; which 

 mode of con fun pt ion was found to anfwer better than felling it for malt, 

 many of our malt houfes having been fliut up 



* Butcher meat is on the advance ; of courfe, fat cattle fell better ; 

 Be' f and Mutton from 6d. to 9d. per pound ; Veal and Lamb ^A, 

 to 7d. ; Pork 5d. and 5^d. ; Butter 1 id. and is. ; Cheefe 6d. to yd. 

 Potatoes are reafonable, tht)Ugh dearer in proportion than the corn. ' 



EJfex ^larterly Report. 

 Within this laft quarter the weather has been very fickle and change- 

 able. Plowever, upon the whole, we have not had a bad feed time, 

 though it was prolonged by the alterations which took place. Beans 

 were Town at the latter end of February, and beginning of March, and 

 are now fhooting up. Barley will in a few days give the fields a beau- 

 tiful appearance ; and jn the courfe of a fortnight we fhall expetl to 

 fee the earth covered with Its full variety. Wheats are in a thriving 

 fldte, and, upon moft landsj^ look amazingly well. The hoe will be 

 foui;i tf effential fervice this year, as the weeds generally prevail, owing 

 to tie miidnefs of the winter. Tares promife a good crop, as do both 

 meadcv iud artificial graffes. Fcjod for cattle, however, h fcarce, in 

 confequence of the failure of the turnip crops. Where cabbages were 

 grown, thev were found of great benefit, particularly in fupplying the 

 ewes, which have lambed down well. By the appearance which our 

 ft»ck-yards make in comparifoa with the former years, we have no reafon 



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