1803. jigr'icullural Inielligcnce — Scot la ml € I i 



< The grain crop of lad fcafon turns out, for the mod: part, of very- 

 inferior quah'ty, and the demand for it is unufiially flack. The fcale of 

 prices is not at all agreeable to the grower, nor confiitent with the rate 

 of rents, and the expence of labour ; but, ftill, the greatcfl: evil is the want 

 of demand. ' 



Tweeddale ^tarterly Report, 



Though the weather took an unfavourable turn in 0<ftobcr, yet fuf- 

 ficient intervals were found to finifli the harvell in a fatisfaftory manner. 

 Other cfrcumllances, however, contributed to place the rural matters of 

 this diftri<fl in a more unfavourable fituation than could be wifhed. The 

 potatoes, and all the crops in low grounds, were much injured by the 

 early frofts of September ; and when it is added, that a fevere Ihake 

 took place on the higher lands in the beginning of Oftober, it may 

 fafely be reckoned, that our crops are remarkably unprodudlive. It is 

 difficult to calculate the general produce, as, in all high climates, there 

 is a greater irregularity in backward feafons, than where the foil and 

 climate is more uniform. Many of the oats do not yield more thaa 

 eleven pecks of meal per boll. Beer is far from its ufual quality ; and 

 peas are fcarcely worth the expence of thrafhing. 



As the weather continued frefli and mild after harvefl, confiderable 

 progrefs was made in executing field labour ; and, from the fame caufes, 

 the fog and turnip feeding have turned out to good account. Mod of 

 the turnips were ate with fheep ; as cattle, for the purpofe, could not 

 be got, but on the mod extravagant terms. 



For ten days paft, a fevere froft has prevailed, which will no doubt 

 hurt the turnips that remain unconfumed. Grain, meal, and butcher- 

 meat are at much the fame prices here as in the Edinburgh markets. 

 l%th January. 



Letter from a Gentleman in Alerdeenjhlre — January 19. 



* Our harvefl was, in many places, concluded moft unfavourably. Near 

 Ellon, a great quantity of oats were expofed to the rains of the latter 

 end of October, and the fubfcquent month, and were not got fecured 

 till the end of December. In the diftrid of Alford, a gentleman had 

 a great part of his crop, on a large farm, almoft deftroyed ; and, at 

 the head of the county, betwixt Huntly and Keith, many fields were 

 uncut, or {landing out, when December arrived. 



* The turnip crop Rands the Winter, as yet, very well, not having 

 experienced much froft. We had a little fnow fome weeks ago. A re- 

 gular florm feems now to have fet in ; but the ploughing of wet foils 

 was completely flopped long before it commenced, 



* Too mucli pains cannot be ufed in cautioning farmers againft the 

 ufe of frofted feed. The froll of 13th »September, hurt only the low- 

 country crops \ but later frofts injured thofe of the higher diftrids more 

 feverely. ' 



2 Berwick^ 



