102 Agr'iciihufal Intelligence. Jan# 



alteration upon the fields; and, if it had continued another 

 month, a plentiful return might have almoll been infured to 

 the farmer. We have fcldom obferved abetter appearance of 

 wheat upon the ground, than wliat v/as then to be feen. The 

 greater number of fields v/ere bulky, the ear was generally of 

 a full lize, and all that was wanting was a fufficient quantity 

 of heat and fun to bring the crop to maturity. 



Thefe beautiful pvofpefts, however, were foon over-cloud- 

 ed, and the fields, infteadof a healthy vigorous colour, aflum- 

 ed a complexion which ferloufly afFetled every difcerning mind. 

 About the beginning of Auguft, heavy rains, accompanied 

 with cold eafterly winds, reduced the fummer-fallows and 

 turnip fields into a perfedl mire, half rotted a great part of 

 the hay, Hopped the growth of the fecond crop of clover, 

 laid down all the flrong corn, and efFeflually prevented the 

 wheat from filling ; as that grain cannot arrive at perfe£lion, 

 if loaded with moifture at that ftage of its growth. 



The month of September was, on the whole, rather worfe : 

 Indeed, the flrong corn lay foaking among water during the 

 greateft part of it. Much of the wheat, from the excefs of 

 moifture, died at the root before the ear ripened ; and the draw 

 got a grey colour, from the perfpiration of the ftalk being pre- 

 maturely ftoppcd ; and, when cut, had an appearance fome- 

 thing like as if it had been kiln-dried. The people, in general, 

 were by this time convinced that the grain would neceffarily 

 be of inferior quality; but few believed that it would be fo de- 

 fe£live, in every refpe£l, as fa61:s now unequivocally fubftan- 

 tiate. 



Oats, which are a hardy grain, fufFered lefs under thefe un- 

 favourable circumftances, and promifed at one time to be ge- 

 nerally a medium crop. This has turned out to be the cafe 

 upon the dry (harp foils ; but thofe of a different defcription 

 did not efcape fo well; and, upon the l)igh grounds, they were 

 nearly deftroyed by two fevere nights of frofi on the i6th and 

 17th Oflober. Some beans are faid to have been alfo injured 

 at that time; but we believe that the lofs of ;his grain will be 

 very trifling, as they are ufually fown upon deep rich lands. 



We deem it unnecefiary to enter fuithcr upon the fubje61:, 

 in this leading article ; "but (hall proceed to detail the different 

 communications tranfmitted to us. We only add, that we 

 fliall be much obliged to any gentleman, who has kept a re- 

 gifter of the weather during the pad year, M'ho will be kind 

 enough to favour us with a copy ; and. If accompanied with 

 monthly remarks on the (tate of rural economy, it muft prove 

 highly ufeful. Such a regifter will not only inform the pre- 

 fcnt generation, but muft alfo prove very interefling to pofte- 



rity. 



