24^ Agrkuliutral Intelligence — England^ WTay 



preaches fomewhat to that nature, of which there are large trafts ad- 

 joining the rivers Humber, Trent, Oufe, Don, and Air, over wh ch 

 the water may be conveyed every fpring-tidc at pleafure, by having 

 doughs buih, and drains cut for the purpofe. 



* About lOO acres of the latter foil, on the north fide of the Hum- 

 ber, has been warped in the la (I feven years, (the firll; ever attempted on 

 that fide of the river) ; and the improvement made is great indeed, fo as 

 that wheat and beans can be grown with great fafety, which could not 

 be done before. 1 underftand the tenant fuggefted the idea of the 

 pradlicability of fuch an improvement, and bore a large proportion of 

 the expence. On the rivers Trent, l^on, and Air, large trafts of 

 land have been improved in this way, and more embankments continue 

 to be made every year. * 



Norfolk ^larterly Report. 

 A MORE gloomy and uncomfortable fpring tlie agricnlturiil lias feldoni 

 e::perienced than the prefent. Severe frofts and alternate thaws, the moifc 

 trying of all weather to vegetable life, have deprived the fields of almoft 

 every appearance of verdure ; and the total abfence of the fun's enliven- 

 ing beams, fo defirable at this feafon, gives an unplcafant profpecl, and 

 excites apprehenfion left his exertions at feed-lime fliould be difappointed 

 at harvcll. If, on light foils, vegetation receives an early check, and 

 if the feed remains long in the ground before it vegetates, the blade, 

 when it does appear, is generally weak and fickly ; and nothing but a 

 combination of happy circcumftances, fuch as a high ftate of cultivation, 

 an artificial richnefs in the foil, and a peculiarly favourable feafon after- 

 wards, can recover it. He has an additional mortification of refle6^ing, 

 that, from the failure of turnips laft year, the barley crop muft fuffer 

 confiderably ; while his flocks, in the mean time, muft lanuuifti and fall 

 off, from the want of their ufual fupport. All thofe things throw a 

 gloom upon rural affairs, which will not be foon removed. 



In laft Report it was mentioned, that wheat feed-time, in this county, was 

 particularly favourable ; r.nd it was predi(!:tcd that this circumftance would 

 enable the plants to refift the feverity of the winter frofts. Happily, the 

 predidlion, is completely verified, as the plants are fufficiently abundant ; 

 and, though fomewhat backward, are new beginning to tiller well. Be 

 it remembered, however, that many accidents are ftill to be encountered. 

 Blight, mildew, and fmut may reduce the value of the moft promifing 

 crop, both in quantity and quality ; and a feafon like the prefent is often 

 the precurfor of fuch evils as are now pointed out. 



The barley crop of laft year was more than an average one ; but the 

 ftacks of that grain have almoft completely difappeared ; and, after 

 deduftfng for feed, a very inconfiderable quantity will remain for the 

 market. Wheat was below an average crop, both in quantity and 

 quality, but ftill maintains its ground in the ftack-yard. Turnips were 

 originally very defeftive ; but the winter quarter being favourable, the 

 farmer was enabled to keep part of them for a long time, and had reafon 

 to believe that he poffcffed a full fupply of fpring food. The fever^ 



-vN'fathf^ 



