1803. Agrwuliural IntelUgcnce — Scotland, 237 



ufual time. The fpring of grafs, within this fortnljrht, Is uncommonly- 

 rapid ; a circumilaiicc higlily favourable to the flicep, as was alfo the 

 Icalon of dtoppii)g their lambs : To that tlie lofs will not probably be 

 found very couiklcrablc on this kind of flock, which is now become the 

 great ilaple of the Highlands. Meal continues, and is likely to con- 

 tinvie at a reafonal)lc rate, though a great deal has been imported from 

 Ireland, owing to the deficiency C)f the lafl crop of potatoes, which may 

 be called our ItafF of bread. It has been generally fold about i6d. 

 the peck of to lib. Bear, which is moflly made into whiflvy, with or 

 without licenfe, has fold at the rate of 16 or 17s. the Linlithgow boll, 

 or from 25 to 26s. per quarter of eight bufhels. Potatoes are now as high 

 as IS. the peck. Butcher meat 6d. the EngliHi lib. The price of all 

 forts of cattle promifes to exceed even that of laft year, though then 



high beyond all precedent. Land lets and fells in proportion.- 



yi^ril 16. 



Aherdeenjlnre ^tarterly Report. 



For a month or five weeks pad, we have enjoyed one of the finefl 

 feafons recolle£led by any man alive. Neither the plough nor the har- 

 rows, nor any other work therewith connefted, have found any obftruc- 

 tion, and both have been kept clofely employed. This was more ne- 

 cefTary in the inland parts of the county, where a ftorm of fnow, and 

 frequent returns of froft, had very much interrupted the work for two 

 months preceding. The fowing of peas and oats is generally over. 

 Many have begun to fow bear, and foroe people are altogether fi- 

 nifhed. 



Grain here, as in other places, is much reduced in price. Oat meal 

 may be quoted from 13 to 14s. 6d. per boll. Oats in proportion, ac- 

 cording to qualities. Bear fcarcely finds a purchaier at any price ; of 

 courfe, the culture of that grain is much curtailed, and mult be fo flill 

 more if the prefent malt duty continues. 



Grafs came forward very brifldy for fome time ; but the continuance 

 of drought, with frequent frofts at night, has in fome degree checked 

 its progrefs. Grafs parks, which are already fet for the feafon, have 

 nearly maintained their former value. Cattle, efpecially lean ftock, 

 are much above prices formerly reported ; indeed there does not ap- 

 pear to be more of them on hand than is neceffary to flock the grafa ; 

 of courfe little alteration can be looked for. Sheep markets are not yet 

 commenced ; but they are expedled to be equally hfgh in price as 

 thofe for cattle. 



The price of labour Is flill advancing very rapidly. Thus, whea 

 years of fcarcity advance the price of corn to an extravagant rate, the 

 price of labour muft be advanced in proportion, that the people may 

 live. Again, if corn falls exceedingly low, the labourers can enforce 

 their own demands almoft to what they pleafe, becaufe boarding is 

 cheap, and they can afford to be idle. This falls harder on the north 

 country farmers, as few of them employ married fervants, which cannot 



TOL. iv. NO. XIV. A a be 



