246 Agricultural Intelligence — England, May 



been fo mnch felt in moft of our cnttle markets. I^, however, the 

 feafor.s are favourable, and if tl.e fpirit for rcarinir live (lock, vvliicb at 

 prefert prtv.iils it) this and other dillri(fts, continue, it is probable thatj 

 in a few vtar.s, the.confumers will experience confiderable relief. Almpft 

 every farmer has reared, in laft year and this, about one third more calves 

 than cufti;in;'.-y t and the number o{ fwine has alfo been much ircreafcd. 

 The inclement ienfons, which caufed the late alarming fcarcity of corn, 

 proved alfo deilruftive to tlie fheep ; but the lofs was, in a great degree, 

 copipeniated by the vaft number of lambs leaved during the fucceeding 

 prop'tif'Us ones. Unluckily, however, a dtftruc^ive rot took place among 

 them lad; a"itM»nn, efpecially thofe on (irong and retentive foils, which haB 

 made confiderable havock. ' 



Letter from a F.:rn!cr in IValcSy April 15/^. 



* T;-.f vf:t'i"r has been particnlavJfUfavourable for thefe feven weeks 

 paH ; 31 !] wc are geiring on fail with our bsrley feed. The lai.d never 

 v\orked belt'-! than it has done this year; and, if the weather continues 

 favorable for anot!;er w-eck, mofl (^f our feed work will be over, except 

 on the ciays, where they are crying cut for rain. Our winter fown 

 wheats (as far as 1 have feen) have looked thin and weak ^rom the be- 

 ginning ; and the long continued froft in January and February (though 

 we had no cufting winds) has prove. i fatal to a great deal. Some fields 

 that were ilultercd, and in good heart, are lookii>g well ; but they are 

 but a fmall propoition cf the countty in general. Owing, 1 fuppofe, 

 to the poor profpeft of wheat on the ground, and the very low price of 

 barley, and a favourable fpring, there has been more wheat fown this 

 fprirg than ever was before in Glamorganfliire ; many having fown 

 ■wheat where barley was originally intended ; which at prtfent has a better 

 appearance th-n t[)e winter fown fields. Oats and peas braird very fine, 

 I have feen but few beans. The firlt fown barley begms to look green. 

 Corn of all kinds is dull of fale. Good wheat will fetch 20s. our 

 Wel(h buOitl, or about 8s. Winchefler; but what is pitched in our 

 market i.s only a few facks, which is fv)ld in pecks, and half pecks, to 

 people who buy corn for their own ufe. The n.illers will not give more 

 thaii 18s. for i6bp(H]nds. They buy all by weight; and the wheat 

 this year weighs very light. There is very little demand for barley. 

 The. v<*ry be(t Is not higher tlijn 3s. the Wiiichefter buditl ; and oats 

 about 2s. Catrii' aTui flieep 11 ill hold their price. AfCardifF fair, the 

 fecond Wcdnelday in March, there were but f:w buyers ; and, of courfe, 

 the price-^ lower ; but, fince that time, the demand has increafed, and 

 they arc now full as dear as lall year. Owing to the early fpring, and the 

 line appearance of graf^ cvnvs and calves, and ewes and lambs, are par- 

 ticularly dear. Pigs are n^n fo high-priced as they liavc Been ; but ftore 

 pigs are ilill very high. Butcher meat dea'-. Beef, mutton, and veal, 

 8d. and Qd. per ]> )und ; I'oik at yd.; Butter, is. 2d. ; Cheefe, .from 

 ^^, to od., accotding to quality. The price of labour is advancing 

 \vith us every week; 2s. per day fccuu now to be the common hire; 

 and men arc not to be got even for that. The thralhing of our corn is 



now 



