fjS Retrofpecihe 'v'lenv of Jgruulttire — Mid LolhUm 



fifty bolls, of about four c\vt. each, per Scotch acre. It has been tt^-i 

 marked as a singularity, this fall, that the ash leaves remained long'* 

 est green, though generally the first in falling ; the spring frosts hadjj 

 in fact, nipped their buds when beginning to burst, so that they had to 

 bud anew, and of course their leaves uere younger and more vigorous ; 

 and t'^ough the harvest frost sufHced to wither the potatoe leaves, it 

 had not been sufficiently hard to reach the ash leaf (susceptible jcs 

 it has been remarked to be) from its elevated situation, and particu- 

 larly from its bein;T in a more vi<^oroUs state of growth; in which 

 respect its suscepti'ijility of frost biting, would seem to follow the 

 analogy of that of Oats, as noticed in the fifteenth number, and else- 

 where. 



The turnip crop, the feed of which is here fown early, tocompen- 

 fatc by allowance of longer time for growth, for backwardnefs of cli- 

 mate, had made very little progrefs till the rains in September arrived. 

 Though there were few complaints of a deficiency oi plant?, yet they 

 feemed to become ftnnted by the drought, few being found above the 

 fize of one's fifi. The leaves had aiTumed a yellow appearance, in- 

 terpreted byfomc into ripcnefs ; whence it w^as concluded, that no fur- 

 ther increale of bulb could be expected, the plant being fnppofed to 

 have reached maturity. This Munchaufe?ua7i analogic reafoning has-, 

 however, been eventually contradicted by the fa<fls ; for after rain was 

 received, the fields gradually aflumed a living,green appearance, andthe 

 bidbo have fince increased at leaft to double, if not triple fize. In fiiork, 

 the crop oF this root will, every where in this county, turn out equal 

 to an average one ; ond by furnifiiing our flocks with food longer 

 than firft expelled, may contribute to leflen tlie prefent market glut, 

 and provide fupplies at a period when the failure in other diftri(fl3 

 may occafion a deficiency. 



The prices of Scotch beer and barley, mufi depend on what be- 

 comes of the m lit tax. Pray do you think that there is any probabi- 

 lity of our arriving at that fubfiitiitionating dexterity in converting one 

 fpecics of grain fo completely to the ufcs to which a different ipecies 

 is at prelent exclufivcly applied, as that the prices fliall completely a- 

 malgamate ? or fliall the prices of each continue entirely to depend 

 upon the quantity in which it is individually produced in each fcafon ? 



Mid Lothian. 



The only thing that occurs as novel in hufbandry, is a pra61::ce 

 lately adopted by a few farmers in this county, in the management of 

 wheat land. The wheat is fown broadcaft, and after giving the 

 ground a fingle, or at mofi a double tinxc of the harrows, it is imme- 

 diately ridged up into drills, like turnips. Some do it by giving c- 

 very drill a round of the plough, others at once by the plough, with 

 a double mould board, and thus it remains all winter. The oflcnfi- 

 hle advantages are fa Id to be, that it keeps the land completely dry, 

 aiid leaves a rougher mould on the fnrface. 



To Ipeculate cither upon the advantages or difadvantagrs of this 

 pra6tice would be prematiu'e, but it is pretty evident, that, upon cer- 

 tain foils, and in many fcafonc, it would be inadiuiiiible, as it- would 

 J oach and work iht la;ui into a Wi\.<\ of p.iric% 



