i8oo. Agricultural Intelligence — Scotland. 455 



generally fpeaking, it will not exceed half an average ; on cold wet 

 lands it is exceflively bad, particularly early oats, which, on fome, 

 even fertile clays, are hardly worth reaping. Univerfally, except 

 on fome very favourable fpots, the fttaw is extremely fhort ; fo 

 that, on the whole, few farmers will have above half the fodder of 

 an ordinary good growing year. Hay, confequenily, befides be- 

 ing generally a light crop, is rifing faft in price. At Berwick, it 

 began in the rick at i6d., and fell to lod. the ttone of 24 hbs. ; 

 now it is faid to have returned to i6d., and to be on the rife. I 

 fold, four weeks ago, thrafhed hay, at the rick fide, for I4d. the 

 ftone of 2 21 libs. At Newcaftle, I was told it began at 61. and 

 7I. and is now 9I. the ton. 



Wherever I have been, turnips have failed univerfally on cold 

 lands, and very much fo on later fown dry foils- Even on the befl: 

 foils, the early fown turnips, though luxuriant in foliage, do not 

 root by any means well : 1 think I have feen them nearly twice the 

 diameter by this time of the feafon. 



If I may judge from what I faw in Morpeth market, on the loth 

 of September, fat cattle, flieep, and lambs, are fcarce ; as great 

 numbers, in a miferable ftate of leannefs, were on fale, and, I was 

 told, brought full 6d. the pound. The fat, I fuppofe, are much 

 exhaufted by the demand ; the fucceflion has been prevented by 

 the long drought ; and graziers are pufiiing off what they can, 

 from the bad profpeft of Winter food. 



Extract of a Letter from Thurfo, September 25. 



I. have, with much fatisfadion, perufed the three firfl: Numbers 

 of your valuable Magazine, which will foon find an extenfive cir- 

 culation in this part of the countiy ; and I hope your fuccefs will 

 be equal to the general utility of your laudable undertaking. 



I fee that you wi(h to be furniflied with reports of the ftate of 

 the ciops in the different diftridts. I have the pleafure to inform 

 you, that, in the county of Caithnefs, the hay-crop has been abun- 

 dant, and was got up in excellent condition. The corn-crops, ir\ 

 confequence of the long continued drought, will be fhort in fodder, 

 bu,t by no means- oeficient in grain, and that of excellent quality. 

 The (late of harveft affords the profpeft of a fafe and fpeedy con- 

 cluiion, the weather being uncommonly favourable, and the reaping 

 far advanced. On my own farm, in the neighbourhood of Thurfo, 

 the corns were all got in, and the barn-yard flap clofed, on the i^th 

 of this month ; and I think I may venture to fay, that, by the 10th 

 ©f Odober, not a Iheaf will be out in any part of this county. 



Our 



