l8[03. Agricultural InieUigettce — Scotia?:^. jfij 



Eajl' Lothian ^^arterly Report. 



If tliC quality of grain is to be determined from the quantity of 

 faccharinc matter therein contained, and if tlie quantity is rcguhited by 

 tlie degree of heat which prevails during the rijjening feafon (pcjfitions 

 general!)' admitted), then, it may faf^-ly be believed that the grain of 

 the prefent crop will turn out as good as any reaped for maiiy years 

 paft. Perhaps oats mufl be received as an exception, this plant be- 

 ing a kind of aquatic, requiring a confiderable degree of moillure in 

 the ftrveral ilages of growth, without which it cannot be c:cpe<Sted to 

 arrive at perfecflion. 



From numerous trials already made, the truth of tlie above do£lrinc3 

 is fully exemplified. Wheat yields a great return in the barn, weighs 

 heavier than in any feafon remembered, and abforbs a greater quantity 

 t)f water than ufual ; of courfe, a given quantity is of fuperior va- 

 lue to the confumer. The fame may be faid of barley, where it was 

 fully and equally ripened. Beans and peas are like wife of greater 

 weight than ufual ; but oats are much inferior to the growth of lall 

 feafon ; even the variety called potato oats, appears to have temporarily 

 degenerated. All the grains, however, except wheat, are of fmall 

 bulk in the flack-yard, though it is prefumed the retui-n per acre v;ill 

 jiot be far Hiort of the average bolls. 



Independent of the injury received by oats from the exceliive dryne£a 

 •f tlie \wather, it deferves to be flated, that myriads of black ini~ecls 

 or caterpillars infefled this plant in the ripening feafon, and in fact 

 fucked out the heart's blood thereof, which ought to have gone for 

 the nourifhment of the grain. Thefe infedls were more numerous on 

 the majority of fields than even in 180O, and the confequences would 

 have been the fame, had fimilar weather prevailed in autumn. At tliat 

 time, the grain dropped from the flalk upon the fmalleil motion ; but 

 the want of moiflure at harvefl, prevented the like lofTes as were theit 

 experienced. In 1785, the fame effects were produced. Indeed, both 

 thefe years, like the prefent one, afforded oats of inferior quality ; con- 

 fequently returned a defe^live produce in bolls to the owner. 



The turnip crop has fuffered mod feverely in this uncommon fea- 

 fon ; and in no year, fmce the introdudlion of this root, have greater 

 loffes been fuflained by thofe who ralfed it. Stunted originally by 

 drought, the feeble plant fell an eafy viftim to the hofl of caterpillars 

 and worms that afterwards attacked it ; and even fields that were 

 thought to be out of danger, were obliged at lafl to give up. It 

 would be an arduous taflv to attempt an afcertainment of the lofs vvlilch 

 muft neceffarily follow ; for it is not the value of the crop itfelf which 

 mufl be calculated, but the lofs of manure, the derangement of rota- 

 tion, and the utter inability of breeders and fecdei^s to carry on their 

 ilock : Thefe are things deferring great confideration. 



Veiy little aftermath or foggage has been got this feafon, which has 

 not only occafioned a great inconvenience, but even a heavy expence 

 txa many farmers. Tke graaier's trade throughout has-been a bad one. 



