24^ jigyiculiural Intelligence — England. May 



The markets for fat flock are much lower than was expecled "lad au- 

 tumn ; and thofe who fpeculated in buying ftock to feed on turnips, 

 will be confiderdble lofers. At lail Morpeth market, flieep were fold 

 at yd. per lib. link, and have never exceeded 8d. ; Be<!f is fold from 

 7s. 6d. to 8s. per ftonc of 14 iib. fink, but is expected to be higher. 



The colledion of a year's property tax of 9d. per pound on rent, 

 has been loudly and jullly complained of by all farmers ; and probably 

 •an unfairer tax was never levied. The principle of it is faid to be 

 ^ yr ccnt» on income, to which the occupiers of lands have no objec- 

 tion ; but, according to the prefent regulation, whereby pd. per pound 

 on rent is levied in England, many are paying 15 or 20 per cent, on 

 their income, and fcarcely in any inftance lefs thau 10 per cent. 



Upon what Jata the framers of this adl have gone, it is difficult to 

 conje6lure. Every fanner, however, can be at no lofs to bring num- 

 beriefs inilances of the unjuftnefs of the principle. Suppofe we take 

 one of a farm of 800I. a year, the tenant is charged as polTefiing an 

 income of 600I., whereas his real profits are moll probably not 20cl. ; 

 and few inftances can be produced where it exceeds 300I. I am fully 

 convinced, that if the matter was fairly inveftigatcd, it would be found 

 ■that, nine ^imes out of ten, the farmer's profit does not exceed so per 

 cent, on his capital employed. Taking it at 10 per cent., and fuppofing 

 the capita:! employed on a farm of 800I. a year to be three rents, or 

 2400I., the- income would be only 240I. If the capital is taken at 

 four times the rent, or 3200I., the income would be 320I. ; the average 

 is lefs than half of what' the tenant is charged with, and obliged un- 

 '^uflly to pay. An enlightened Legiflature ought immediately to re- 

 move fo heavy and fo unfair a tax upon agriculture.- ^pril 21. 



Letter from a Torkjljire Farmer, April 22. 



* The weather for fome time paft has been fb tempeftuoufly cold, 

 tliat vegetation is entirely at a Hand, and as the turnips are now moftly 

 eaten, the fiieep are in great want of food, which will be feverely felt, 

 as the lambing feafon is commenced. The feverity of the weather 

 has deftroyed many lambs, and the general fize is uncommonly fmall. — 

 The fowing of fpring grain has been unufually retarded, and much is 

 yet unfinifhed. 



* Cattle and flieep are falling in price every day, A large flock of 

 fat flieep is faid to be on hand, and the graziers of flieep upon turnips 

 mull lofe confiderably. — Our markets for grain arc looking up, and 1 

 think will continue to dp fo, as our flack-yards are very thin. 



* Hay is felling at yd. per ilonc of 14 lib., and is much fought after. 

 — Tiic ' fowing potato oats is entirely abandoned in Yorkfliire — they 

 are found to be comparatively uuproduftive, and much fubjcd to fmut. 

 1 have not heard of one perfon having made ufe of them this year for 

 < '-d ; they are, however, preferred by the meal-fellers to other fortg, 



. ,d Pre worth more by about 3d. per bulhel. * 



^■etter 



