^803. jigftcultui'al httelligetice — Englani^ 36^ 



ENGLAND. 



Letter from a Scots Gentleman^ dated Brighlotiy May 28. 



* I had a pleafing jaunt to London ; but was difappolnted in my 

 intentions of going to the Continent, by the alteration which took 

 place in the political fituation of the country. Diring my (lay at Do- 

 ver, I took occaiion to vilic feveral parts of the County of Kci;t, the 

 foil of which is ejenerally incumbent upon chalk. The interior part of 

 the county is full of wood, the furface rifing into gentle hills, while 

 the vallies are only cultivated. When you come within eight or ten 

 miles of the coaft, there is fcarce any woodland ; but the whole is ci- 

 ther cultivated, or fuffered to remain in green paflufe ; and many parts 

 of the coaft land confift of excellent fait marlhcs, which are drained 

 with the greateft care. The crops, in general, look raiferably thin ; 

 and as for pailurcs, they have few or none, tares and artificial graffea 

 fupporting the iiock. Peas and beans are the bell crops of Kent at 

 priefent ; they are fown in drillg, and kept exceeding clean and neat. 

 The weather has been exceflive cold all this month, froily during the 

 night, and cold winds in the courfe of the day. ' 



Norfolk ^larterly Report. 



The fcience (if the cxpreflion is allowable) of Agriculture is now- 

 very judlcioufly deemed a grand objed of national importance, whilll 

 the adoption of more effeftual methods for its encouragement and im- 

 provement, and the many fpeculations on the fubjed, are very wifely 

 rendered fubfervjent to the purpofes of pradlical hufbandry. Though 

 the path, which leads to fpeculations on the probable produce of the 

 growing crop, is extremely liable to lead an amateur aftray, and per- 

 haps is one of the humbleil in which he can tread, yet, if due cau- 

 tion is ufcd, he will not often wander far out of the right way, and 

 may probably pick up fome reflexions in his walk, that will not prove 

 utterly deftitute of intereft, nor wholly void of utility to future expe- 

 nmentalifts. U, therefore, the following obfervations, made with fome 

 degree of attention, are thought worthy of infeition in your Magazine, 

 they are very much at your fervice. 



The feafon for fowing the fpring corn and pulfe proved extremely 

 favourable ; the land pulverized well, was fufficiently moirt, and the 

 corn vegetated rapidly and fully. Some frofty mornings, however, in- 

 tervening in the month of May, rendered the profpedl lefs inviting. 

 The early fown fields began to v^J-ear a yellow, fickly appearance ; bui 

 fine mild Ihowers foon falling, dlffipated all apprehenlion ; and the con- 

 tinuance of moill weather, through the month of May and the early 

 part of June, has given us at :his time the flattering profpeft of a 

 more than average crop of barley, oats, and peas and beans ; though, 

 where it might leall have been expefted, on fome light foils, there ap- 

 pears a conhderable deficiency ; the incefiant and extremely cold rains 

 almoft fiarving the plant to death, fcarce a friendly cheering ray oi" 

 fun having made its appearance during th'^ month 'if M";y and bcgin- 

 oing of June, 



'lowing 



