462 uigricuhtiral Intelligence — Scotland. Odt. 



This is no new or ideal fcheme of injuring the commonwealth, 

 which an honeft man ought not to fuj^gtfh It has been followed 

 almoft openly, during the time of our greateft dillrefs, within thefe 

 twelve months paft. 



A remedy might be eafily fuppofcd ; but it is of no avail to de- 

 velope the evil, or to point out the remedy, imlefs our Legiflators 

 think ferioufly of putting a Hop to fuch a glaring mifapplication of 

 human food. — Odobcr 2. 1800. 



Mcraypire ^mrtcrly Report. 



One fourth of the grain in this county is flill uncut, and a con- 

 fiderable part of what is cut remains in the fields. The weather 

 Las been uiifavcmrable for eight days pail ; and more rain will in- 

 jure the wheat and barley much : hitherto, both are free from 

 Springing. 



As one half of our land confiRs of fandy foil, a fourth of carfe 

 clay, and one fourth of free rich loam, the deficiency of corn and 

 fodder on the two former, from caufes evident to eveiy farmer, is 

 beyond precedent fince the year 1781.. Wheat is not fuppofed to 

 average more than five, and barley four and a half bolls per acre ; 

 but both, if fairly got in, will be of exceeding fine quality. Oats 

 are flill more deficient in quantity, as well as quality. For weeks 

 previous to their arrival at maturity, this grain was infelled by an 

 jnfeft, which, placing itfclf on the flalk and bearers, weakened 

 both, and evidently prevented the pickle from receiving that fmall 

 iiourilhmcnt which the parched earth was little able to afford. Of 

 Jafl crop, this county fpared many hundred bolls of oats, equal in 

 quality to any, and fuperior to mod in Scotland : It is doubtful 

 if crop 1 800 will do more than (upply ourfelves. Potatoes are a 

 poor crop, but the quality is good ; and as farmers, who were in 

 the pradtice of fetding cattle when worth but 4d. per peck, will, 

 thus, when likely to fell at lod. to is., be induced to bring them 

 to market, it is probable that the inhabitants will find a fuiiiciency 

 both for food and feed. 



No wheat or oats are yet thrafhed out, nor prices fixed ; for, 

 while the weather continues fuch, that cattle can find e\en a fcanty 

 maintenance in the fields, farmers will not be eafily induced to thrafh 

 out, when provender is in fuch requell. Barley and ftraw have fold 

 on the ground for 3I. per boll. Hay gives 2s. per flone, and more 

 likely to rife than fall in price. Brewers are paying 35s. to 42s. per 

 boll for barley ; but little has been grinded down tor meal, as the 

 niarkets are yet lupplled vvithold grain, bought up bythe.magiflratea 



and 



