i8oo. Agricultural Intelligence — England. 351 



The clippings of (hcep, or fliearings, are now going on here j 

 but the fleeces, In general, are thought to be lighter than laft year. 

 The prices are not yet afcertained j but 25s. per tod of 28 lib. is 

 expefted. Ewe wool is fuperior in quality to that of laft year's 

 growth. 



Potatoes promife to be an excellent crop ; and It Is hoped that 

 the goodnefs of this valuable efculent will, in a great meafure, com- 

 penfate for the apparent deficiency of the wheat crop. 



The fowing of turnip has been general throughout the county; 

 and, (hould the weather continue dry, good crops may be expeA- 

 ed, where tolerable management has been praftifed. The broad- 

 caft method of fowing Is cuftomary in this county j and, when the 

 manure Is ploughed into the ground the fame day it is laid on, it 

 is found to anfwer beft. 



The fmall farmers of this county have fuffered exceedingly frtjm 

 the late calamitous feafon, efpecially thofe upon the low fen lands, 

 wet clay and heath foils, where their crops were not only deficient, 

 but the grain of a bad quality. It is not to be fuppofed, but that 

 the large farmer has had his (hare of the general calamity ; yet 

 from his extenfive capital, he has been able to remedy the evil, by 

 gaining in one way, what he loft in another ; which was not the 

 cafe with the fmall farmer, with whom all was lofs. 



Parlfh rates have become alarmingly high, partly from the dear- 

 nefs of provifions, and alfo from the increafing habits of luxury 

 and extravagance among all ranks. This is alone what will bring 

 ruin upon this happy and fertile land. Pity that luxury could not 

 be checked before it has taken too deep a root ; and that the pri- 

 meval plain honeft induftry of our anceftors could not again be in- 

 troduced. This, combined with their good morals, would layfuch 

 a foundation of real national wealth and profperity, as would baffle 

 all the attempts of our moft inveterate enemies to undermine. 

 June. 20. 



Extra£i of a hetter from Ripon {Tirkjhire^, dated ^une 29, 



* You may be affared of every exertion In my power being 

 ufed, to promote the laudable undertaking In which you are en- 

 gaged. 1 now tranfmit a fliort account of our crops and markets. 

 'Jhe wheats in this neighbourhood are in general very unpromifing, 

 and fpring crops very backward It their growth. Hay appears to 

 be a good crop, and fome of it is already cut down. The paftures 

 are alfo good upon the whole. We are bufy with our turnip feed, 

 which is here moftly done according to the diill fyftem, though not 

 tiie common way in this county. 



