i8cx). Agricultural InteUigence. 213 



into the ftack-yard, early predicted, that a very great ad- 

 vance in the price of grain would necefiarily follow, wJiich, 

 unhappily for the country, has taken place in the articles 

 of barley, oats, and peag, to a degree above what was ever 

 experienced. Meal has of late bore a price exceeding any 

 thing known in Scotland ; and, unlefs fome fubftitute or 

 ©thgr is procured, there is ferious caufe to apprehend, 

 that the increafed demand from the unproductive dillricts, 

 wdll occafion a general fcarcity of that article during the 

 Summer months. Were it not for the free tranfit of corn 

 ^over all Scotland, feveral places would be totally junpro- 

 vided ; and we obferve with pleafure, a late decifion of 

 the Supreme Court of Juflice upon this point, whicli, un-» 

 der exilling circumftances, mull be productive of benefi- 

 cial confequenccs to the public welfare. 



The Legifiature have not been inattentive to the dif- 

 trefles of the country, bgt have ufed a variety of* expe- 

 dients, with a view to leflen the evils of fcarcity, and 

 prevent it from being felt in a more alarming degree. It 

 admits, however, of fome doubt, whether the iflue of 

 thefe meafures will accomplifh the propofed end ; for a 

 deficient crop can never fupply the ordinary demand : 

 And as other parts of Europe have been alfo vifited with 

 adverfe weather, it is evident that the ftri6left economy 

 wiil be neceiiary, to make the flock in hand, even when 

 aided by the expelled foreign fupplies, anfwer the un- 

 avoidable confumption. 



In North Britain, a fcarcity of oat-meal, which is the 

 chief food of the great body of the people, is ferioufly to 

 be apprehended ; and this, in all appearance, can alone be 

 remedied by limiting the quantity given to pleafure horfes, 

 or thofe not employed in uieful purpofes. The working 

 flock, in fa6t, from the inferiority of the grain, require a 

 greater abundance than ufual, and any curtailment would 

 be fucceeded by double lofs afterw^ards ; but thofe of a 

 different defcription may be fafely reilri£led from the ufe 

 oi oats, without any real injury to the owners, but with 

 much advantage to the public. . 



Under all the calamities of this memorable year, It 

 -mull and ought to be recorded, to the honour of the 

 lower ranks, that they have been generally difpofed to 

 fubmit to them with patience and fortitude. In country 

 pari'lhes, meal has been fold at prices very much reduc- 

 ed ; 



