544 Rcif^ospecii'vd 'view of Husbandry — East Lothidn, 



of all ranks, and the calculations having been made by William 

 Morr^an, Esq. nephew of the late celebrated Dr Price, and perhaps 

 at this moment, the most eminent calculator in Europe, giv(is as auc- 

 tion and an authority to this scheme which few others possess. 



Rast Lothian, 



The weather, during the year 1803, was unfavourable in many re- 

 spects to the husbandry of this county, but in others it proved equal- 

 ly propitious. From the last week ef February tj the same time 

 of May, a single shower hardly fell, consequently, many fields of 

 spring grain were stunted at the outset. In the first and second weeks 

 ot June, some genial rains, though not to a great extent, were recei- 

 ved, but their effect was prevented by high gales of wind, which im- 

 mediately followed. Little moisture dropped in July, and though a 

 larger supply was furnished in the beginning of the subsequent month, 

 yet from the ground being completely dried beforehand, less benefit 

 was derived than othcr\vise might ha\e been expected. 



To persons intimately acquainted with the general nature of East 

 Lothian soils, it will readily appear, that a drought of such uncommon 

 length and severity, would operate upon the different districts of the 

 county in veiy different waysj and that land, recently turned up, would, 

 in every case, be much more injured than -where the preparations had 

 bec^i made at an earlier period. A considerable part of the soil is of 

 a light gravelly nature, or, what is nearly the same thing, is incum- 

 bent on a free and open bottom. Fields of this description, except 

 where winter wheat had been sown, suffered materially *, and upon dry- 

 sands the crops were nearly burnt up by the scorching rays of the Ju- 

 ly sun. I'he inland parts, where clay and loam of difierent varieties 

 predominate, were only partially injured, though the several crop* 

 were, even in these situations, of much less bulk than those custo- 

 marily produced. 



Notwithsanding these adverse circumstances, there Is good reason 

 to believe, that, taking the county in the aggregate, it will be finally 

 ascertained, that the quantity of grain produced in 1803 approximates 

 to an average. The diversity of soil already noticed, renders weather, 

 confessedly injurious to one district, beneficial to others \ and when 

 it is considered, that a large portion of the arable land is annually de- 

 voted to the growth of wheat, which is rarely injured by dry weather, 

 perhaps it will be allowed, that the husbandmen of this county have not 

 much cause to complain of a bad season. Individuals may have suffered 

 considerably, but an equal benefit was gained by others situated un- 

 der different circumstances. Those who deal largely in the grass and 

 turnip husbandry undoubtedly sustained much loss ; indeed over the 

 whole coast side district the season proved less or more adverse to the 

 occupiers. 



A concise abstract of the advantage-^ and disadvantages accompany- 

 ing this uncommon season shall now be given. This of course must 

 be restricted to general circumstances, seeing that to descend to mi- 

 oute particulars would be an impracticable attcoipt. 



Advantages 



