1^03« Apricultural Intelligence — Scotland. Jjj^ 



Jiablenefs to fliake, is the only dlfadvantage to which they arc expofed 

 in this ftormy dimate. * 



RofsJJjire ^/nrterly Report. 



During the month of May and the greated part of June, we expe- 

 rienced a cold continued drought, which checked vegetation much ; 

 but, for fome weeks paft, the weather has been warm, and though ftill 

 dry, the crops have made a rapid advance. If the prefent weather con- 

 tinue a few weeks longer, the harveft will not be a late one ; but, from 

 the long drought, ftraw will be very rtiort in many places, and hay but 

 a fcanty crop. Potatoes have a promifing appearance. Much depends 

 upon the harveft months for peife<5ting and making all crops produc- 

 tive. All that can be faid at prefent is, that our fields wear the ap- 

 pearance of a fair average, except in fgme few places that have fuffered 

 by the drought. 



Lean cattle have fold remarkably high. In the month of May, from 

 15 to 20 per cetit. was obtained above lad year's prices ; they are, how- 

 ever, now a little lower, and the demand is not fo briflc. The rage for 

 ilieep farming, which extends over this and tlve neighbouring counties, 

 has very much raifed the price of young flock. Lambs of the black- 

 faced breed fold at Fort-William market from los, to 12s.; and hogs 

 from iSs. to 21s. There v/ere few wedders and ewes fold ; the breed- 

 ers were aiking for them in proportion to the extravagant prices obtain- 

 ed for young (lock, and the buyers would not give fuch prices. Wed- 

 ders, however, are expedied to fell from 28s. to :;os. ; but we entirely 

 depend upon the fouth country markets, and rauft be ruled by thenu 



Wigto7iJlnre ^/arterly Report, 



From the date of lalt Report till the end of May, we were vifit- 

 cd with uncommonly cold, and fometimes ftormy weather, infomuch 

 that both the corn and grafs crops during that period made but little 

 progrefs. Since that time, however, circumftances have changed ; the 

 weather has been favourable both for the piirpofes of vegetation and the 

 preparation of the ground for the turnips— days of moift and dry funny- 

 weather fucceeding each other in fuch a manner as to be equally fuitabie 

 to light and heavy foils ; fo that our crops, though late, in general 

 will be good. Rye-grafs hay, the harvcfting of which is well advanced, 

 in fome fituations, and quite clofcd, feems to be a very tine crop ; nay, 

 fo plentiful, that fome of our inn-keepers have refufed to lay in their 

 ftock at 6d. per ftone of 2 61b. ready laid down for ftacking. 



Pafture grafs is alio exceeding good throughout the whole county : 

 but perhaps, on account of the price of cattle, which is ftill extrava- 

 gantly high, to which we may add the general fcarcity of money, our 

 paftures are lighter ftocked than ufual ; a circumftance by no means 

 againft our agriculture. Can there be any doubt of one beaft well fed 

 ^^ying better than three pinched in food ? A nd what vaft difference of 



1 i i 4 , appearanqe 



