l8o3» AgiicuUural Intelligence— Scotland. 477 



Very little g^rain of this crop is as yet bioue^lit to market ; but oat 

 TT.eal fells for 24s. and 25s. per boll of nine (lone, and barley incal at 

 18s. per boll often ftone. It is s^eneraily believed that confide'-ablc 

 fupplies of jrraln will be wanted for this county. Butcher meat, which 

 was very higjh-priced tlirou^h the fummcr months, has lately dropped 

 jnuch, and will continue to fall till the ijrafb beef and mutton are dif- 

 pofcd of; but there is every appearance, from the fcarclty of turnips, 

 that a great rife will take place in the latter part of winter, and through 

 the fpring, upon thefe articles. — Orober 1 j. 



BaTifffiire ^larterly Report. 



The crop is moflly fecured in this county, but proves more deficient 

 |n bulk than any in our rcmembranGe. Notwithftanding the unufual 

 proportion of old grain which remains unthraflied, the (lack-yards ap- 

 pear to be one third defeftive. The difference of land was never more 

 dilcernible than in this feafon ; for the quantity and quality of grain 

 depended much more upon foil than cultivation, which often is not tlie 

 true criterion. Deep loams had in every rcfpecl the advantage, and 

 produced crops equal, if not fuperior, to tliofe of ordinary years ; while 

 the thin clays and gravels, in many Inftances, have hardly made returns 

 fufficient to defray the expence of feed and labour. From trhls al- 

 ready made, it appears that oa's will nearly yield meal for corn. The 

 merchants price of old meal is iSs. or los. 6d. per boll of eight ftone; 

 and in retail, this is fold at I4^d. and I5d. per pfrck. 



There is ftill fmall demand for barley; nor are fales of any confequenc^ 

 expefted, fo long as the prefent high duties on malt continue. It is 

 probable, that this grain will remain like a drug on the farmer's hand. 

 We have not much wheat ; but what was raifed this feafon Is of excel- 

 lent quality. 



The demand for cattle was not great till the month of September 4 

 but a good number have been fold fince that time. Thofe in good 

 condition are fuppofed to be >vorth 9s. per ftone finking the ofFal ; but 

 jhofe for the l^aw-yard have funk one third in value. Stots snd queyp, 

 not under three years of age, are llill in requeit ; and it is expe'led tha? 

 the flock which will remain in the country, will not be much fn )rt of 

 the ufual number, but, generally fpeaking, a year younger than foimerly. 

 it is to be apprehended that, from liie great failure of turnip?, and the 

 icarcity of provender, there will be a difficulty ot fupplying the butchej^ 

 i-naiket, and doing that juftice to the growing Hock neceffiry to enlu:e 

 their arrival at pcrfedtion at the ufual period. Potatoes are very un- 

 produftive.: — Qcloher 15. 



Letter from a RoxhurghJJjirc Fanner ^ OStoher 16. 



* We had fine rains in the beginning of Augull, which ierved the 

 fields of late grain confiderably, but wer£ not fufficient to recover the 

 grafs lands. Our gra-in harveft advanced very fall after the middle of 

 Auguft ; and from the iinenefs oi the weather and the llghtnefs of the 

 yropj the expence of harveiting did not exceed that of common years, 



JSffj notwithftaading 



