10 2 Agricultural Intelligence, Feb. 



cafes, againft improvements. The old feudal rule, that a valTal 

 could not be received on an cftare witliout the confent of the fu- 

 perior, is nou- happily aboliihed ; and it feems ftrange that the 

 power exercifed by proprietors, of preventinc^ any pevfon from 

 poflefling land without their confent, (liould ftill be retained. The 

 cafes are exaftly the fame in principle, and the welfare of the 

 country is more concerned in the abrogation of the rule as apply- 

 ing to tenants than vaiTals. 



Having given t)iis haftv (ketch of Scottiili bufbandrv in the 

 preceding century, we ihall detail, as concifelj ab poflible, the 

 flate of hufbandrj, during the year i3o2, and more particularly at 

 the prefent time. 



The year 1802 tvas, in feveral refpedts, uncommonly favour- 

 able for exccutin rural labour, and perhaps the ctmntry has fel- 

 dom exper e.iced better ipring and autumn quarters than in this 

 year. Clay foils wrou^^ht in a fuperior way, at feed- time, to what 

 commonly happens ; and the wheats, from being well rooted, re- 

 ceived little damage from the cold winds of April and May. The 

 fummer quarter was, however, unpropiticus to the growth of 

 corn and grafs, and ferious apprehenfions were at one time enter- 

 tertained, that the grain crops would prove defeftive. Thefe ap- 

 prehenlions proved, in a great meafure, unfounded, for the warm 

 weather in Augufl and September ripened the grain of the fouth- 

 crn diftrifts in the completeft manner. Except a partial lofs from 

 fbaking winds and fcvere frofls, in September and OtSlober, the 

 crop was fafely har veiled, and brought into the yard m excellent 

 condition. 



Whether the laft crop, taking it upon the great fcale, equals an 

 average one, is a problematical circumftance. In a few diflricts, 

 fituated on the eaftern coall, the crop is unqueftionably good ; but^ 

 in the weftern and northern parts of the country, owing to the 

 coldntL ot the weather in the fummer months, it is confidered to 

 defervj a different charadler. The rate of markets, and the great 

 im]: ortation of foreign grain, fupport the idea that the crop is be- 

 low the confumption ; but the corn-trade, for fome time paft, has 

 been carried on upon fuch difcordant principles, that it is fcarce 

 pradicable to draw jnft inferences from x.ht extent of imports and 

 exports. Thf country mull be fully flocked, before old prin- 

 ciples can be afted upon ; and that a full llock in hand is not yet 

 gained, mull be obvious to the mod fuperficial inquirer. 



The prices of grain through the year have been fully as high 

 in the feveral Scottilh markets, as in Mark-lane, and ftill keep in 

 unifon with thofe of the metropolis. Good wheat, weighing 

 from 6:^ to 64 lb per Linlithgow firlot, (about 3 />^r cent, larger 

 tlian the Winchelter buihel), fold lately as high as 32s. a 33s. 

 I but 



