l8oo. Agricultural Intell'igence— England. 229 



The number of inhabitants in Britain being j^reatly increaf- 

 ed, and luxury augmented, it appears abfululely necefiary that 

 the Legiflature fhould take vigorous meafures for bringing 

 the waftes and commons into a cultivated and produflive ftate. 

 If the growth of corn is not increafed in fuch a manner as to 

 meet the increafed confumption, it is obvious that our money 

 muft be conftantly fcnt abroad to purchafe the necefiaries of 

 life ; and as different counties are differently circumftanced, it 

 would be advifeable for the Legiflature to pafs an acl, to em- 

 power each county to enclofe their commons and waftes, fo as 

 they may be properly cultivated, and the quantity of grain and 

 number of cattle thereby increafed. 



The average price of wheat is about 5I. ; barley 50s. ; 

 beans 84s. ; oats 35s. per quarter of eight ftrikes or bufhels 

 each. Beef and mutton about 6d. per lib., and have not been 

 fcarce. But turnips being nearly done, I apprehend Winter- 

 fed fheep will be fcarce, when the turnip-fed mutton is linifh- 

 ed. Hay is not plentiful, and fells at 53. per cwt. The 

 rate of markets for lean cattle are not yet well known, it be- 

 ing too early for the graziers to buy in ftock for their paflures ; 

 but prices apparently will be high. 



'Northumberland ^(arterly Rcfort. 



From the middle of January to the middle of February, a 

 total (top was put to agricultural operations by the froft, and 

 fnow which accompanied it ; the third week of February was 

 more favourable, and a great deal of wheat was fown upon 

 the naked fallows of lalt Summer, as well as upon the land 

 cleared of turnip. A few oats and beans were alfo put in 

 upon dry lands. The froft and fnow again fet in on the 24th 

 February, and continued till the 2Cth March, which has occa- 

 fioned a large portion of naked fallows upon wet foils to rernain 

 uufown, which of couife muft now be cropped with barley 

 or oats ; very few peas or beans are yet got in upon the clay 

 foils. 



The peas and beans of laft crop are fo much injured, that 

 very few are fit for feed, which has rendered it neccffary to 

 import confiderable quantities for that parpofe, as alfo for 

 mixing with barley for bread. 



Turnips in fonie places hav'e fufl'ered much by froft, and a 

 general fcarciiy of this valuable root begins to prevail. The 

 expence of feeding on turnip this Winter has been very high, 

 from 9s. to I2S. per week, and now not to be had at thtfe 

 prices. 



Fat 





