i8o3* Agricuhiii'al hitdligcnce — Scotland* 109 



rured with fca-weed, whofc turnips in general meafured twelve inches 

 diameter. 



From the end of November till the beginning of this month, the 

 weather has been rainy : now the frofl: has fet in pretty fevere, which 

 has not only kept back the fowing of foine part of our wheat, but re- 

 tarded onr ploncjhino very much ; on light foil, we often find wheat 

 anfwer as well in the end of February as in Odlober. 



Our crops, in general, are turning out rather better than we expeft- 

 ed in quality, potato oats weighing from 38 to 40 lib. ; common Gal- 

 loway do. from 34. to 37 lib. ; beer from 44 to 48 lib. ; and wheat 

 from 54 to 59 lib. ; all per Wincheller bufliel. Our market is how- 

 ever both dull and low in price, viewed comparatively with the extra- 

 ordinary advance, of late years, on land-rent, price of labour, 5cc. &c. 



The price of butcher meat has continued pretty uniform. Lean 

 ftock, and young cattle and horfes, during this quarter, have continued 

 much higher in price than at any period during the late war. 



One great caufe of the price of grain keeping low is, the vaft Irifli 

 importation into Clyde, and weft of England ; but which, being now 

 rather falling back, it is thought^ by fome people, the market will 

 foon become better. January intb. 



Dumfyiespjire ^tarterly Report. 



The feafon, fince laft Report, has been as favourable as could be 

 wiflied for carrying on farm labour, and preparing for the enfuing crop. 

 The lands intended for green crops have got a furrow, and many farmerg 

 are well forward in ploughing their lea lands. None are behind but 

 fome few old-fafhioned people, who were bred, and remain in the Idea, 

 that all land is Injured by being ploughed before Candlemas. Thefc, 

 however, it is hoped, will foon be ftill fewer in number than they are. 

 Such of the fmall fields of wheat fown in this county, as were got early 

 in, are promifing. Thofe fown fo late as November were long in com- 

 ing up, and appear very feeble. The quantity fown feems rather more 

 than ufual. 



The crop of laft feafon is turning out, as was expe<^ed, rather below 

 an average. Wheat is generally unfound ; whether blighted iu the 

 flower, or by the froft in the beginning of September, is not certain ; 

 likely both. Barley is firm, but light, weighs from 48 to ^o lib. the 

 bufhel. Oats, common kind, 36 to 37 lib. Early oats rather better. 

 Potato oats 42 lib. 



The after growth In the Autumn, and the open moderate Winter 

 nwnths, have Improved ftock of all kinds. Many young (heep, indeed, 

 have died of the difeafe called the fcknefs ; but that is a mark of the 

 ftrength of the ftock, generally being occafioned by an over fulnefs or 

 richnefs of the blood. Prices, fo long as there were markets, increafed 

 to the laft, particularly for catv,le. How they will open in the Spring, 

 is a matter of doubt ; though, by all accounts, cattle are yet in numbers 

 unequal to the demand, particularly aged cattle. Pork In carcafe, for 

 drying, was, In November and December, from 78. ^d. to 7s. the ftone 



TOL. ly, NO. -^IIJ. O ' o^ 



