1803. Agricultural hiielligence — Scotland. 1 jl 



Letter from a Farmer in RoxhurghJIjirey Jan. 8. 



* Since tVie conclufion of harveft, we have enjoyed fine open weatTict' 

 till lately, and have been able to get field hiboiir in a very forward (late. 

 The grafs lands continued to vegetate with vigour ; and 1 hardly re- 

 member of having feen the turnips fo much fiiot, or run, as in this fea- 

 fon. This, however, is now tffedually flopped by tl.e frof^, and utjiefa 

 this valuable root is injured by a continuance of the prefent weatlier, wc 

 have a profpedl of enjoying a full fupply of cattle and (licep meat for a 

 confiderable length of time. 



' 1 doi/t think that there is any thing like the ufuaJ extent of ftock in 

 the hands of the breeders or feeders of this county. Thofe who had 

 to purchafe in autumn, were apprehtnfive of riiking too much ; while 

 thofe who had (lock in hand, eagerly difpofcd of greater numbers than 

 cuilomary, the prices being fo extravagantly high. If a good fupply is 

 not procured, in the Spring, from the Northein diftri(Ss, it is probable 

 that ftock will continue to be very icarce. 



* The great bulk of laft crop is putting little money into the farmer^s 

 pocket; and the grain is fo interior in qinlity, that it cannot be prc- 

 fented at the London market, oats except :^d It is difficult to qi-.ot« 

 prices, for we are willing to giv^ it to the corn fatljr upon his own 

 terms. The perfevering advocates for breaking up giafs land, have 

 fucceedcd fo far, as to render corn fcarcely worth the growing, whick 

 may prove a fatal circumftance to the country in after years. ' 



Aherdeefijlnre ^iarierly Report. 



From the 14th Oftober (the date of laft Report) the weather re- 

 msined very fine for about ten days ; fo that, in the early diftrldl of the; 

 county, the different crops were harvefted in a very perfect ftate. Be- 

 fore the end of the month, the weather broke, and continued fo long 

 bad, with torrents ot rain, as occafioned the crops which remained in 

 the fields to be almoft totally ruined. The lofs in many places v/as 

 very confiderable ; and where there were no thrafhing machines to take 

 out the grain in its wet ftate, it could not be faved by the moft adive 

 efforts. 



Barley turned out fufRciently produ£live, and fit for malting. It 

 js, however, upon the whole, rnther defedive in weight. Oats arc 

 lefs defe<ftive than were expeded, though they do not yield fo freelj 

 from the ftack as we could wifti. Neither the one grain nor the other 

 is, however, in great demand : the temper of the market does not in- 

 duce merchants to be hearty in purchafing, nor the fcale of prices terapt 

 farmers to be anxious about felling. 



Cattle and ftieep maintain very high prices. The ftock of either, on 

 hand, is by no means great ; though provender, both of ftraw and tur- 

 nips, is very plentiful. In dry fituations, field work is fufficiently for- 

 ward, as there has been little interruption from froft or fnovv ; but, in 

 low lying, or wet fituations, httle labour could be accompliftied, owing 

 to the humidity of the weather. 



Peat 



