t'8a4» Agricultural InUWgence — Ett^lautl. ^47 



weather of February and March difappointcd thcfe expedations. Fields 

 which, during the winter, afforded a mod gratifying profpeil, were, in 

 the month of March, fo completely dcflroycd, that not the flightcfl veftigc 

 of the top or apple of a turnip could be feen, after the mod rniuute in- 

 fpeftion ; the whole having vanifhcd, as if by enchantment. 



Of vetches and artificial grades, there appears a full ])lant, though 

 -both are un«fually late. Some hope may be entertained of a fair crop 

 of lambs, though the feafon is certainly again d them. A petition was 

 prefented from this county, complaining of hardfhipa fudained by im- 

 proper corn laws, the additional malt tax, and praying redrefs ; which 

 petition is now under confideration of Parliament. A datement, ia 

 fupport of the petition, drawn up by an intelligent agriculturid, which 

 was laid before Mr Addington, is enclofed, together with fome remarks 



thereupon. ■^p^'i^ i8« 



{[We are forry that our limits preclude us from prefenting the above 



mentioned datement at this time ; but, if not out of date, it diall 



be infertedin next Number.] 



Northumherlaful ^larterly Report. 



The favourable date of the weather at the time of fending lad re- 

 port ceafed foon after, and the latter end of January proved exceeding- 

 ly wet. The month of February and beginning of March were fo al- 

 ternately wet, and fnow with hard frod, that little or no fqed was got 

 in before the fecond week in March. From the I2th to the 17th, the 

 dry lands, that were cleared of turnips, M'^ere modly fown with wheat ; 

 a few beans and peas were alfo put in, but the frod and fnow return- 

 ing on the 1 8th, interrupted feed-work till the 29th, and obliged many 

 people to abandon the idea of fowing wheat and beans altogether. 

 The oat-feed was modly done by the middle of April, when barley 

 fowing commenced ; but another delay has taken place, by a cover of 

 fnow, for the lad three days, with iatenfe cold winds from the north- 

 «ad, which have modly prevailed for the lad three weeks, and checked 

 all kinds of vegetation. The young clovers were never known fo 

 backward, nor the fcarcity of green food more feverely felt, turnips 

 being modly done ; : 'd ruta baga, which was intended as a r-eferve for 

 late fpring food, has irf general proved very defeiiive, being hoven and 

 fpungy at the heart, which caufed many of them to rot. This difeafe 

 •was probably owing to the plant being long checked in its growth, 

 and mildevii^ed by the drought of lad fummer, and, when the rains 

 came, growing fo rapidly, and increadng fo much in Jize afterwards. 



This winter has been very inimical to the mountain farmers ; their 

 flieep were feldom in lower condition j and the fnow and dormy weather 

 ;it prefent, being in the middle of their lambing feafon, will be fevere- 

 ly felt. 



Hay and draw 3.1-2 not in fuch abundance as lad year, and the dack- 



yards appear much thinner. Our corn markets arc advancing a little. 



Wheat from 5s. 6d. to 63. per bufliel Wincheder ; Barley, 2s. 6d. to 



_?<i> 8d. 'f Oats, 2S. 6d. to 2s. lod. j Beans and Peay, 3s. 9d. to 4s. — 



Q 4 Th9 



