x8c4. ( 475 ) 



BRANCH II. 



Agricultural Intelligence, 



When our lafl; Number went to prefs, the weather, generally 

 fpeaking, was dry over the whole ifland, and fanguine expecta- 

 tions were entertained, that a full and abundant crop of strain 

 would he gained by the huibandman. Before publication, how- 

 ever, a great, and, in many inltances, a fatal change occurred, 

 which, at that critical period, proved very injurious to the corn 

 fields, particularly thofe occupied by wheat. In England, the 

 rains fet in with feverity foon after the middle of July •, confe- 

 quently the after lofs was greater than that felt in Scotland, 

 where the weather remained longer unaherexj. In the firft 

 week of Auguft much rain fell in every direction ; and, for 

 more than two weeks thereafter, the weather continued wet 

 and unfettled, preventing every kind of grain, oats excepted, 

 from filling and ripening with vigour and fuccefs, and occahon- 

 ing that baneful diforder, mildaiu^ upon many fields of wheat. 

 Independent of thefe rains, there was good reafon for believing, 

 that the wheat crop of Scotland would have been more prolific 

 than any one for many years pad. Even under the inaufpicious 

 circumftances now detailed, it may be eftimated as fully equal 

 to an average, though much of the grain is of inferior quality, 

 and, in fome diftricts, not a little fmutted. 



Notwithilanding that feveral of the grain crops were greatly 

 injured by excelfive wetnefs at the period mentioned, yet other 

 articles, fuch as oats, grafs, turnips, and potatoes, were confi- 

 derably benefited thereby. Oats are a kind of aquatic, and rare- 

 ly fuffer from moifture, unlefs where lodged ; and leguminous 

 crops, peas excepted, are feldom good in a dry feafon. Indeed, 

 turnips and clovers received much advantage from the Lammas 

 rains ; many fields of both being completely at a {land when the 

 quarter commenced. 



From the various accounts tranfmitted to us, it appears that, 

 in England, wheat turns out a (liort crop, and that the quality, 

 in feveral cafes, is of a very inferior defcription. This is evi- 

 dent, from the average price of flour approaching fo near to that 

 of wheat ; a circumllance which cannot happen, unlefs when 

 the grain is materially defetStive. Perhaps we are not far from 

 the mark, when we rate the deficiency of produce at one 

 fonrthj compared with that of the preceding year. In Scotland, 



thougk 



