l803' Agricultural Intelligence — Scotland. 239 



work is now nearly fiiildied, and \vc arc biify ^nving our lands tlie fccond 

 furrow tor potatoes and turnips. The early (own oats make a flourifh- 

 injr appearance", and our youn^ gralFes proTnife wtll. Cattle of all de- 

 fcriptions keep at high prices, and fo do flioep ; black- faced ewes from 

 2CS. to 25s. and weddcr hogs from 16s. to 19s. We have only a fmall 

 demand for t^rain from Glafgow, which in general is our beft jnarket, ' 



Wigtonfiire ^larterly Report. 



The v/cather fince laft Report, lias been exceeding variable ; nearly 

 to the latter end of February froll and rain altert)ately. March, and to 

 iiie middle of this month, although interrupted now and then with hea- 

 vy fhowers of rain, rather a good feed time than otherwife to thofe who 

 have had indullry fnfficlent to ' catch the fcafon as it jl'ies : * a precept 

 well worthy the attention of every hufbandraan. 



The late partial malc-tnx has caufcd many fn-mers give up fowing 

 bear, fubftituting potato oats in its place, until fnch time as the ivifdoui 

 of the Legiflature fee thejultice and found policy of taxing malt in pro- 

 portion to the ardent fpirit it contains, and not according to the mea-. 

 iure or weight. 



Wheat and new grafs have a very healthy appearance ; and though 

 cur vegetation was by no means early, it has had but little interruption 

 fmce it began. The price of grain at prefent feems to look a little up* 

 ward. Oats from 20s. to 30s. p. boll ; choice feed Potato Oats 40s. ; 

 Bear from 25s. to 30s. p. Galloway boll ; Wheat from 5s 6d. to 7s. 6d, 

 t. bufliel ; Potatoes is. p. builiel. Butcher Meat much about 6d. a 

 pound in quarters. Choice pieces of Beef 8d.^. lib. 



The prices of lean {lock (iill keep high. We had a very fine fncw 

 of Galloway cattle, befides a few (lall-fed Irifh bullocks, at the Glen- 

 iuce new market on Thurfday lail ; and though the dealers rather ap- 

 peared fliy, thofe who bought gave handfome prices. One great caufe 

 of the dealers rather keeping off, was, the grafs not yet being ready to 

 receive (lock. But fnch indeed is the extravagant price of young cattle, 

 that many think of laying aOde tillage, and attending chiefly to breed- 

 ing and rearing cattle, and, if pofibht to preferve the equilibrium be- 

 tween grain and llock. One year, we cry for bread 1 The next, a fu- 

 perabundance is poured in amongft us from all quarters. Can no effec- 

 tual means be found to enfure at all times feed to the fower, and bread 

 to the eater ? At a period when the knowledge of good hufbandry is 

 diffufcd throughout the remoteil parts of the Britini empire, Hill we be- 

 hold a vaft furface lying in its natural (late ! Here the philanthropic 

 mind looks forward, and, with a pleafing fatisFavlHiion, views in profpeft 

 the happy period when all thofe waile lands (hall be broui-ht into a ftate 

 of cultivation — feeding millions ! But lam afraid I am wandering from 

 the fubjedl of a Report. Adieu 19th April 1803. 



Beriulchjljire ^lavtcrly Report. 



This quaiter has been uncommonly favourable for the different field 

 operations. The frotU in February having gone off without rain, left 



A ?- 3 " the 



