2 $6 Agricultural Intelligence — Sect land. May 



and fheep are holding (rood prices, though rather lower than a few weeks 

 ago ; which proceeds from the winter tood being exhauflcd, not from 

 the quantity of fat flock in hand. Sales for lean hearts have not yet 

 commenced ; but milch cows are felhng extravagantly high, and young 

 calves bring a higher price than year olds did a few years ago. 



« The corn markets are very dull, and the ftack-yards remain better 

 filled than ufual. As for the malt tax, 1 do not think that many 

 landlords or tenants have ferioufly confidered the fubjecft. In one point, 

 I am clear, that as Engliih barley is fuperior to 6cotch, the latter is 

 unable to (land under the fame duty. However proud we may be, on 

 account of the perfcftion of our rural economy, ilill an Englifh cHm.ate 

 is wanting : this is an improvement which all our exertions cannot ac- 

 complifli, and renders our barley^ inferior to thofe of our fouthcrn 

 neighbours. ' 



lA'tter from a Gentleman near Per thy April 1 8. 



5 The wheats early fown look vaftly well ; but the later fowings af- 

 ter clover and peas, In many places, appear very indifferent ; and none 

 are fo forward as la ft year at this time. Grafs fields, in general, pre- 

 fent a promifmg afpeft, and, from the mildnefs of the weather, will 

 foon afford a refrefhing bite for live ftock. Owing to thefe circum- 

 llanccs, I think it almoft certain that cattle and iheep will continue to 

 command high prices, at leaft for fomc time to come. 



< The fpring feed-work commenced about the middle ofMarch, though 

 the weather was rather cnoift, for fome foils, till about the end of the 

 month. Both peas and oats got a favourable feed bed ; and a fine 

 braird, efpecially of oats, now flioots up. We have at this time wea- 

 ther to our wifh for preparing the barley land, and fome people have 

 even fown that grain. Indeed, in comparing the early and late bar- 

 leys of laft year, the difference is fo great in quality, that a doubt 

 might be held whether they are both the produce of the fame feafon. 

 This difference furniflies an inducement to few early ; but it v'ill be 

 eicrht days, at leaft, before a general fowing takes place. 



* In this quarter of the country, there is but little demand for grain, 

 and none at all for barley. Many people had good hopes, for a while, 

 that an alteration would be made in the malt duty, which would have 

 occafioned an incrtafe of barley purchafers ; but as yet no favourable 

 anfwer is received to the refpcvTiable reprefentations offered on the 

 fubjea. ' 



Argylejljire ^tarterly Report. 



During the winter, we had in this county lefs froft: and fnow than 

 ufual, the weather having been generally wet, and often ftormy. The 

 ground having been thus deluged with lain, was not In condition to re- 

 ceive the ft td fo early- as ufual. But the lofs Is amply made up by the 

 fineft weather ever known at this feafon, which we have had for a fort' 

 night paft : fo that the fowing will probably be concluded yet at the 



ufual 



