!t8o3. Agricultural hitelligence. 3^7 



It plv?f u^ pleafure to mentior, that the mod fedulous at- 

 tentlon cor.rinues to be generally paid to the condition of the 

 lower ranV'; ; ?,nJ we cannot avoid recornmending that tins 

 fliouM be ftepdilv p^rfevered in, fo ion? ns the p-ices of the 

 riCcefTiries of life continue nt adv-inced rntes. It i indeed 

 'pVyficallv in-.pnffible that Aich can fupport their fannilies, un- 

 iefs relief is afforded them in tliis way, or the rate of wajres 

 increafed in an equal mann-T to the rife upon proviGons. — • 

 Were markets to remain fl:;itionarv, the latter alt^irnative 

 ivould be moft expedient \ but as that is out of the queftion, 

 every motive of duty and philanthropy calls loudly upon thofe; 

 jtifted with the means, to provide for tHeir v/ant9. The un- 

 common exertions of the hij2;her rankn, durinpj this memorable 

 year, do them the gre-ateO: hrn !ur, and ought to be recorded 

 for the benefit of pofteritv, in cnfe the country, at a future 

 period, flinuld be vifited with a fimilar calamity. 



Notwithftanding tlie extent of the prefent diflrefs, there is 

 caufe to appreliend that a change will not take place fo early 

 as is devoutly to be widied. Independent of the fcarcity and 

 high rate of markets, wl ich would operate with great weight 

 againft the effects of the mofl produ£tive crop, feveral cir- 

 cumftances concur to render the profpefl very alarming. A 

 fmaller quantity of wheat was fown this year than common ; 

 and the general look of that grain is much below a medium. 

 Many fields of Spring grain were imperfectly managed, both 

 in refp?£l of cultivation and feed •, and the extent of flie 

 ground under crop, in the higher dillricls, was nsceflarily 

 curtailed. If we take into account the fmall quantity of bar- 

 ley, Oits, and beans on hand, and view the afpetl of the crop 

 with an unprejudiced eye, the warrantable conclufian wouid 

 not be fuch as to afford caufe for expefting confiderable re- 

 lief. Still, after all, the crop may prove more produ£live 

 than expected, as it is the ftate of tlie weather in July and 

 Auguft that regulates, in a great mCafure, both the quantity 

 and quality of grain. In a word, the crop upon the ground 

 threatens to be of iefs bulk, and the harvelt in mod places 

 later than ordinarily happens- Yet it is impofnble to fpeak 

 v/ith precifion refpe£ting its vaKie, though the prefent ap- 

 pearances are far from b-ing favourable. 



vcL. I. NO. in. Qy g Extracts 



