Retrospective View of British HuslMidry for iSc^. ^7 



ley, than those of uny year in the remembrance of tlic oldest 

 .man living; therefore no correct conclusion can be formed for 

 regulating a tax, which, in all probal^ility, will not soon be re- 

 pealed, from an entjuiry limited to the crop in liand. Kven 

 under all the advantages of tlie prciciit t^tason, and at jjjices 

 lower than those given for other grr.iiis, r.nt>li.sh barley is al- 

 ready importing, which aflbrds good grounds to suppose that 

 it maintains a part of its wonted superiority. A coubideruble 

 ^juantity of Scotch barley, of crop 1802, still remains on hand, 

 4ind must now be sold to the great loss of the grower. 



B rilling of Grain. 



*We have received various letters concerninir l];e driilincr of 

 •wheat, barley, and oats, on light soils ; and are glad to leaiTi, 

 that this mode of culture is increasing in the southern coun- 

 -lies of Scotland, and the northern ones of England. Such ii - 

 formation is highly agreeable, because it shews that a supe- 

 rior attention to good farming, is coming fast into general 

 practice; for drilling can never be practised to any useful 

 purpose, where husbandry remains in an imperfect state. Wc 

 do not entertain a doubt, but that drilling may be eminently 

 beneficial in several districts ; because it allows the ground to 

 be regularly seeded, and at a proper depth, besides furnish- 

 ing an opportunity of extirpating annual weeds, which are the 

 bane of good husbandry on liglit soils; but still we see no 

 cause to change the sentiments long held by us upon this sub- 

 ject, or to think, for a moment, that the numerous varie- 

 ties of soil incumbent on wet qr retentive bottoms, can ever 

 be successfully cultivated in any other way than according to 

 the ancient broad cast system. What is called the new hus- 

 bandry, under the physical circumstances of the British isles, 

 may be partially adopted, but can never become the established 

 and general practice. 



Turnips, Pctatocs, and young Grasses. 



Both turnips and potatoes suffered this year. Tl}c former 

 root failed less or more in every district, the latter only par- 

 tially. We believe that in no oric year, since turnips formed 

 an article of field culture in Britain, has such a general failure 

 been experienced. Plvcn where a kind of crop has been got» 

 we suspect that the nutritive substance,thereof will be found 

 inferior to the ordinary run of cro2)s. Indeed with cnterp-l- 

 lars swarming on every leaf, and with worms piercing the bulb 

 or root in twcry direction, the juice and strength must neces- 



Yyy4 ^ sarily 



