1803. Poflfcript io ScotiJJj ]?iteUigence. 1 23 



fed with turnips and draw ; occafionally letting them out to a court 

 yard for air and extrcife. While the latter mode evidently puts on mod 

 fat, the other is fiippoled to keep the cattle more hardy, confcqucntly, 

 better able to ftand the fatigue of journey and cold, when turned out to 

 giafs. 



Land rents here, as in every other part of the ifland, are much on 

 the rife ; and no farm is fooner known to be in the market, than feve- 

 ral candidates appear for it. In many inftances, rents are doubled, nay- 

 tripled, witiiin the lall nineteen years ; but a very uncommon advance 

 has taken pl?.ce within thefe four or five years paft. In fitualions where 

 no foreign manure can be had, beft open field lands arc letting at 50s. 

 per acre ; middling lands 25s. to 35s. ; and the very pooreft fandy 

 foils at 15s. on leafes of nineteen years. Were thofe lands enclofed, 

 and fubdivided with fnfficient ftone dikes, (at leaft, fuch as are calculate 

 for grazing, and where materials can be had), there is little doubt but 

 the prefent rents may ftill be fupported, admitting the tenant was to 

 pay 6 per cent, intereft for the calTi fo laid out by the proprietor ; and 

 it is not eafy to conceive how he could derive a more immediate and cer- 

 tain return for his money. But it is, however, a fad, that, to this 

 day, there is fcarcely a fingle enclofure, in this county, on any farm 

 occupied by a tenant !— — y««. 21. 



Fife ^larterly Report, 



Although the harvefl of this county was in general well finlfhed, yet, 

 on many farms, the peas crop received great damage from the wet 

 weather which fet in at the conclufion of the feafon. Both peas and 

 beans are remarkably unproduftive ; the grain bad in quality ; and the 

 ftraw almoft rotten. Wheat is vaftly inferior, both as to quantity and 

 quality, when compared with crop 1801, much of it being fmutted and 

 mildewed. Barley yields not amifs upon the floor ; but the quality 

 thereof is fo inferior, that few purchafers have offered. Oats are our 

 beft crop ; though, on high farms, or on moify and marHiy foils, they 

 yield very poorly. Potatoes are below a medium ; and Flax is worfe 

 than ever feen in this county. The price of it, when dreffed, is i6s. and 

 17s. per (lone ; and as for Seed, a fourth of the ufual quantity will not 

 be gained. 



Under thefe circumftances it might have been expefted that the ge- 

 neral fcale of prices would have been in unifon with the imperfeftnefs of 

 the crop ; but this is fo far from bting the cafe, that a want of purcha- 

 fers is evident to the duUeft perfon. This proceeds from the excefs of 

 foreign importations, and the quantity of grain poured into this country 

 from England, which this year is fo fuperior to our own, that none of 

 our home produce, unlefs fuch as is of the firfl quality, can be fold. 

 The increafed rate of the malt tax contributes to the depreflion of Bar- 

 ley ; for fo long as the fame duty is exadled upon the worft as upon the 

 beft grain, the latter muft inevitably find a preference. 



Trade and manufactures continue to profper, and may they continue 

 to do fo ! but when labourers and artifans can earn fix days provifion by 

 three days labour, it is clear, to demonftration, that the price of vidua! 



