i 531 ) 

 Bl NCH II. 



RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF BRITISH HUSBANDRY FOR 1S03. 



Perhaps in the cdufe of this year the fcale of improve- 

 ments has, in a rreat ineafure, ren)ained llationary ; and vari- 

 <5us reafons might be uf ivued in fupport of this opinion. The 

 attention of the couutry, for the greatelt part of it, has been fe- 

 dulouny devoted to matters of a different defcription ; and rare- 

 ly does it happen, that internal improvement and external dif- 

 fenfion accompany each other. The fcarcity of Jiaiids, in fe- 

 veral diftric^ts, alfo prevented diflerent works from beino- ex- 

 ecuted, efpecially in places circumjacc^nt to thofe where barracks 

 and other public works were creeling. Indeed, the wages of 

 mafons and carpenters rofe to fuch a pitch, as abfolutely inter- 

 dicted every private undertaking, unlefs thofe concerned laid 

 prudential motives altogether afide, and refolutely determined 

 to go forward, in fpite of every obltruClion. The ordinary and 

 common operations of hulbandry, to be fure, went on as ufual, 

 though, in many inllances, at an increafed expence ; but extra- 

 ordinary underlakings, or fuch as only cafually occur, were re- 

 tarded coniiderably. In fad, the increafed expence exceeded 

 the abilities or means polTeired by the great body of pradlical a- 

 griculturifts, and occalioned various undertakings, in contem- 

 plation, to be poftponed till a fitter opportunity ihall arrive. All 

 thefe things combined, afluredly depreilcd thatfpirit of improve- 

 ment, which, for feveral years palt, has been rapidly fpreading 

 over Britain ; and unlefs produce rifes in price, and maintains a 

 nearer affinity to expenditure, muft neceffarily continue to 

 operate in various degrees,- according to the circumllances ia 

 which different diltrids are naturally or accidentally placed. 



Weathej-^ cuid its FJfccts upoh the Crop, 

 The weather, during the greater part of 1S03, was excef- 

 fively dry, and, through the months of July and Augufl, warmer 

 and more ferene than generally experienced in this ifland. The 

 caft coaft fuffered in feveral refpeds, from fuch an uncommori 

 drought ; but, in the oppofite fide of the country, no injury was 

 fuftained,but rather much Lunefit was derived therefrom. As the 

 eallernfideof Britain is principally employed in tillage, apprelicn- 

 lions were, at One time, entertained, that the ^rain-crops would be 

 materially curtailed ; but, though this aclaally happened in aiany 

 places, it does not appear, from the numerous communications' 

 tianfmitted to us, that any thijig like a general deficiency will be 

 r-OL. IV, ^ y y experienced. 



