542 Agylculiuyal Intelligence —-Scolhtiid. May 



Numberk'fs houfes were unroofed, corn (lacks uncovered, and fome of 

 them overturned. The cro;v3 nciis were upfet, and daOied to the 

 Tround, with the young onen. The tender blades of grairi and young 

 clovers have become black, and the rye grafs planes are much blafted. 



Some farmers have fminitd their barley fowingj ; but by far the gieat- 

 eft number have not yet begun it. Tlie early fown wheats, after fam- 

 mer fallow, look well ; but the latter ones, after beans, potatoes, or 

 clover, look very indifPerent indeed, and will require a favourable fcafou 

 to make them a tolerable crop. 



Upon the whole, considering the unco'-nmon goodnefs of the (t^ion^ 

 regeiatlon is by no means fo far advanced as might be expected ; but it 

 often happens that this circnmftance is nothing againft the ir.terell of 

 either the farmer or gardener. 



The prices of grain have continued Aeady fmce laft Report, and are ex- 

 aciily the fame to the confumer. Any fmall increafe that has taken 

 place arifes from the ameliorated condition of the grain by the drought 

 of fpring. Barley continues as dull in fale as ever, and i^i refufed by 

 the brewers and diftillers. This mult continue to be the cafe while they 

 can import fuperior barley, and manufafture it at the fame duties with 

 that of very inferior quality. Now that the malt laws are to be 

 brought under review of the landholders of Scotland, it is hoped that 

 they will 'give the fubjedl that mature confideration which its importance 

 merits ; and will not fwerve from the inveiligation, by being told, (as 

 was anfwered, by a gentleman high in office, to the petition of the 

 Mid-Lothian farmers), that Scotland had long enjoyed an exemption of 

 ^o per cut. on the malt duties : that however wife this exemption was 

 at fird, it has now become unnccefTary : that there are Hill a difference 

 of about 27 or 28 per cent, on the duties in favour of Scotland, which 

 is at lead equal to the difference between Scots and Enghfh barley. 

 Thefe affertions, although true in the abftrad, and operate in favour 

 of the confumer, yet are irrelevant when applied to the grower of Scots 

 barley. Of what importance is it to him, u'hile the finell barley of the 

 maritime counties in England can be brought here, at little more ex- 

 pence than will carry it to the London market, and at lefs expence than 

 will tranfport it to fome of the great commercial towns on the weft of 

 England ; and when brought here h manufactured at the very fame 

 duties with the mod inferior barley of home growth ; asd the fpin'ls 

 made from it cannot be carried back to England, owing to the pro, 

 hibiiions thereupon ? This, no doubt, mud make whilky both more 

 plentiful and cheap than otherwife it would be. But it is hoped that 

 the policy, or rather impolicy of this meafure, will come under the 

 confideration of thofe gentlemen who now fcem to have taken up the 

 matter in good carncll. 



Thofe farmers who were not deterred by the high prices irom ket'p- 

 \\-\'^ their ufual number of v.' inter Aock, are as far advanced in thrafhing 

 ap commonly. But others, who had either lefs ftock, or arc \\\ ul'e to 



dir|)of<j 



