iSoo. Agrlcititiiral lutell'igence — Scotland. 225 



We are all turned jrreat oeconomifts in the articles of flour. 



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oat meal, and mixed bread. After fhealinoc the wheat, no 

 bran is taken out of it ; and potatoes are ufed as fubftitutes 

 for oat nneal and bread. A confiderable quantity of this va- 

 luable efculent root, of the eaily kind, is already planted. I do 

 not remember to have fecn fo little draw in the ftack-yards at 

 this feafon ; and I need n;5t add, that there will be little corn 

 to the bulk. • 



Mid- Loihian ^iarterly Report. 



During the whole month of January, from the prevalence 

 of fnow, rain, or hard froil, very little field work was done, 

 even in the low parts of the county ; while, in the moorlands, 

 there was nothing done at all, except merely leading in, from 

 time to time, as it could be got thrafhed, the miferable rem- 

 nant of the preceding crop. In February, the weather foften- 

 «d gradually to a more genial temperament ; and, although ge- 

 nerally attended with froft during the nights, admitted the 

 different operations of ploughing and fowing, there being a 

 confiderable proportion of the wheat land finllhed in this 

 month, that was unavoidably poflponed from the Autumn fea- 

 fon : fome oats and beans were fovvn, and even potatoes plant- 

 ed, all in pretty good order. The Hate of the weather in 

 March was not fo favourable. From the 4th to the loth in- 

 clufive, the froft prevented ail tillage ; and being immediately 

 fucceeded by heavy fnov/ or rain, the labour was thrown far 

 behind, as well as the lands into a bad ftate for tillage ; and 

 although, from the 17th to the end, both the plough and the 

 harrow were well employed, yet a confiderable proportion of 

 the oat and. bean feed land lemains to be accompiiihed. Seve- 

 ral fields of Autumn fown wheat (which were all laid down in 

 an unfavourable condition) have alio failed ; a circumftance to 

 be rcgreted, merely as occafioning a lofs of feed and labour, as 

 there can be little doubt, that the crop with which they have 

 been, or may yet be relovvn, whether of cats or barley, will 

 yield full as large a return of food for the community. 



The prices during this quarter have been uncommonly high. 

 About the Candlemas iime, indeed, there was a confiderable 

 depreflion in the rate, both of corn and fodder (a very ufual 

 occurrence at that term), which tended to confirm the unjuil 

 fufpicion, that the former high price had proceeded more from 

 a fiditious than a real fcarcity. Whether this impri.lhon is 

 yet effaced from the public mind, it is not material to inquire ; 



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