c^2 Retrospective View of British Husbandry for 1803. 



experienced. In fome dillrifts the wheat-crop partially fuffered 

 by mildew, and, in many others, oats were dama^^ed by infe6is or 

 cuterDiUars, that preyed upon the grain before it reached in:itu- 

 riiy ; but, with thefe exceptions, the crop may be fafely viewed 

 as approximating to an average one, efpecially fo far as refpecls 

 tonfumption ; the different grains (oats excepted) being general- 

 ly of fine quality, and containing a greater portion of nutritive 

 fub (lance than is commonly ext rafted. 



To the weftern fide of Britain, where the climate ij naturally 

 humid and cold, the dry weather proved highly advantageous. 

 Tlie vegetative power of the foil, which, there, is feeble and 

 lano-uid, was anim?.ted and excited by the fun's powerful rays ; and^ 

 tho* fouied and deadened by the humidity of ages, was cheared 

 and reftored to aftion, by getting quit of the fuperfiuous moif- 

 ture. An early and a dry harveit,; rare circumftanccs on the 

 wellern coail, permitted crops of every kind to be harvefted and 

 ft'cured in a very fuperior flile ; and conferred a value upon the 

 feveral grains which the backwardnefs of climate feldom fuffers 

 them to attain. As the grafs-hufoandry, however, is exten- 

 fively pradifed in all the dili:ri(^s to which we allude, a heavy 

 lofs has been latterly fuftained from the fall upon live ftock;, 

 chiefly occafioned by the almoft total failure of after^maths and 

 turnips in the eailcrn anil midland counties. This declension 

 of value, in live flocK, will probably place both fides of the ifland 

 upon an equal footing at the end of this uncommon feafon ; but,, 

 if the fummer prices iiad been fupported,.it would ix)t be difficult 

 to maintain, that the year 1803 would deferve to be ranked as the 

 beft, in the memory of man, to agriculturifts iu thefe fituations. 



On the fall in the price of Li^'je Stock, and causes thereof 



We have alluded to the recent depreffion of live ftock mark- 

 ets, and Ikall now fay a few words upon the probable caufes of 

 that depreffion. To us they appear to be of a temporary nature, 

 not of a lading tendency. The fubjeft, to be fure, is compli- 

 cated and abftrufe ; and out of it quellions may arife, ea- 

 sily admitting Ipeculation, tliongh diflicult to folve. We Ihall 

 ilate our reafons for thinking that the fall cannot be laliing, and 

 leave their jufticc and reftitude to be afcertained at a future pe- 

 riod. 



The coritinucd dryncfs of the fummer montlis, ffunted the 

 pafture and meadow lands, and prevented the fequence of de- 

 mand, which ufually prevails at the beginning of autumn, in 

 order that tlie (lock of fummer fed beafts may be replaced. The 

 fame caufe leffened the quantity of fogS or after-maths, and 

 rendered lean ftock of every kind h heavy article of fale, before 

 '\ general fall occurred. It is obvious that, if turnips had fuc- 



ceeded. 



