234 Agricultural Intelligence — Scotland, May 



SelhirhJJjirc ^larterly Report. 



Owing to the cold barren weather, and the deflru6live ravages of the 

 grub- worm experienced laft year, hill paflures produced a lefs quantity 

 i)f grafs than an average ; confequcntly flieep, at the end of autumn, 

 were generally rather inferior in condition to what they have been in 

 former feafons. The winter months, iiowever, were fo mild and fa- 

 vourable to vegetation, tliat (lock of all kinds improved confiderably. 

 From January 9th to February 23d, (with the exception of a few par- 

 tial thaws), a continued froft prevailed, yet fortunately attended with 

 no heavy falls of fnow ; fo tliat the low grounds were either black, or 

 flightly covered. To the 20th March, the weather was very variable ; 

 and, fmce that time to this date, has been fo genial, that ve,2fetation 

 has advanced with a rapidity feldom witncfTed in this hilly diftridl. 



Draught or great ewes, particularly thofe of the black-faced or foreft 

 breed, maintain high prices ; and the advance lince lalt year is from 

 one to two fhilllngs per head. In feveral places, the diforder called the 

 f.ckncfs has ravaged the flocks, and occafioned m.uch lofs. In fome 

 infiances, net fewer than one fouith of the original number have fallen 

 p. prey to this malignant difeafe ; but, generally fpeaking, the lofs has 

 been moderate. 



li! many places, the oat-feed was finifhed in the beginning of this 

 month, and on fome farms the whole of it was fairly brairded at that 

 time. Indeed, civcumllances of every kind have been fo favourable, as 

 to furnilh a well-grounded hope, that a plentiful and luxuriant crop of 

 corn and grals for the food of man and beail will be the neccffaTy con- 

 ftqucnce. ^'^pr'il 12. 



Letter from a Gentleman in jiberdeeifhire, /Ipril 14. 



* The oat-feed in this county is finifhed ; and in fome places it was 

 concluded ten days ago. The feafon has been hitherto very favourable ; 

 but we begin to be afraid that the drought will hurt the fpringing of 

 the corn on dry foils. At prefent, the weather anfwers well for giving" 

 a fecorid ploughing to the fields dellined for turnip, and for harrowing 

 and clearing the ground of various kinds of weeds. Some people are 

 beginning to fow bear, or big, which is our variety of barley ; and a 

 greater quantity will be fown in this montli, than has ufually been fown 

 jn April lTnfortui;ately, we have very little demand for barley at any 

 prIcL ; and many are giving it to their horfes, oats being comparative- 

 ly the Dioft valuable crop, owing to the very higli tax on malt. You 

 jU^Mv complain that Scotifh barley is infeiior to Englifli barley : but bear 

 oi hi- is ftill more inferior ; and the agriculture of Aberdeenfhire mull 

 be deeply injured, if the late impolitic and exceflively high tax on Scot- 

 ifh malt is continued. Oat-meal generally fells at 15s. per boll whole- 

 fa'.e, and is retailed in the market at is. per peck. Hoifes are very 

 dear, and the demand for them is confiderable. Cattle alfo keep high ; 

 but, txcepting for milch cows, there is little demand. Ryegrafs feed is 

 very dear, ai.d can with difliculty be got at any price. 



* A 



