1 8 00 . Agricultural Intelligence. 235 



corre£l as poflible in the different articles of intelligence 

 which we arc now to give. Diflreffcd by the extraordinary 

 prices of the neceflaries of life, we are not furprifed to find, 

 that the judgrment of the mofl: liberal-minded individuals 

 fhculd be biafled when the ftate of the country is under con- 

 fideration. In their anxiety to procure reli:^f, they eagerly 

 caft their eyes upon the prefent crop, and fondly expe£l that 

 the calamities under which they fuffer will be efleclually re- 

 moved when it arrives at maturity. It would have afforded 

 us the mod heart-felt gratification, could we, at this time, 

 have cherilhed fuch hopes ; but while we will not exaggerate 

 the diftreffes of the country, we are equally determined not 

 to create expe<Slations which, in all human probability, will 

 not be gratified. 



In this leading article, it is not our defign to do more thaa 

 give a fuccin£l defcription of all rural affairs during the paft 

 quarter, and to offer a concife opinion refpedting the probable 

 confequences. This (hall be formed from the beft informa- 

 tion which it has been in our power to collect. 



The weather, during the months of April, May, and June, 

 has, upon the whole, proved unfavourable to the growth of 

 corn and grafs in North Britain, which occafions every kind 

 of grain to be a ftage behind, at this advanced period of the 

 feafon. The wind has generally blown from the eaftern points, 

 and been attended with an uncommon degree of cold, feldom 

 prevailing for fuch a length of time. The month of April 

 was friendly to vegetation, and appearances were then very 

 promifing. The firft three weeks of May changed this flat- 

 tering profpe6l j and a fevere drought, accompanied, at times, 

 with high gales from the weft, has prevailed, upon the eaft- 

 ern coaft, through the whole of June, which has checked ve- 

 getation in every quarter, and ferioufly threaten to diminilh 

 the crop of the moft favoured diftridts. 



The effe£ls of the laft deplorable feafon, upon the current 

 crop, now appear, in various ways, in the feveral diftridls, 

 according to the nature of the foil, the perfe6lnefs of labour 

 beftowed, and the ftate of the weather when the feed w.is 

 put into the ground. To fpeak in general terms, the rich 

 dry lands upon the fea«coaft, and the deep loams in the inland 

 parts of the country, which were in good heart, have not ap- 

 parently received any material injury from the exceffive wet- 

 nefs of laft Winter, unlefs the poftponement of the wheat- 

 feed till the Spring months, and the vegetation of immenfe 

 quantities of weeds, are to be confidercd in that light : Bur, 



upon 



