( l'->9 ) 

 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



The sacred volume informs us, that " a house divided against itself can- 

 not stand;" and, if we are to form an opinion of the present agitation 

 of the question of agricultural distress by this self-evident truth, no 

 good can result from the opposing opinions with which the discussions 

 of the various meetings and associations are distractedly animated. 

 Some suppose that an abrogation of the tax on malt would effect the 

 object in view, and in all probability a trifling temporary relief would 

 be thus brought about ; others maintain, that Peel's bill for the altera- 

 tion of the currency was the cause of the present depressed state of the 

 agricultural interest, and that therefore a return to unlimited issues of 

 paper would restore its previous prosperity ; but, while we willingly 

 admit the impolicy of Mr. Peel's enactment, which effected such havock 

 amongst the manufacturers as well as in the rural districts, we are not 

 prepared to admit that a profuse factitious currency would restore a 

 system which produced inordinate rents, — which forced manufactures and 

 commerce out of their natural channels, but which was nowise calculated 

 for permanent benefit to the community. Perhaps the soundest view 

 which has been taken of the case, under present circumstances, is that 

 of Mr. Mackay, manager of the Moncrieffe estate, who has made an 

 arrangement with the tenantry, by which the whole rental of the 

 estate is converted into grain on fair and liberal principles ; and the 

 tenants are thus secured in the same quantity of the produce of their 

 farms, being equal to the rents now payable by them, as was necessary 

 to discharge their obligations on that head when they entered into their 

 bargains. But as the disease is too deeply seated to admit of cure by 

 ordinary cataplasm, so the remedies previously enumerated, though they 

 might assuage the inflammation or delusively cicatrize tlie sore, in as 

 much as they could not reach the source of the evil, they would not be 

 able to operate as a permanent and effectual cure. 



For several weeks back, the price of grain has experienced a trifling 

 advance, owing to the markets being less abundantly supplied than they 

 were previously to the close of the year. To leave rent out of the 

 question, farmers would have to provide for the liquidation of various 

 annual or semi-annual accounts due at Christmas, and would therefore 

 feel themselves under the necessity of bringing their produce to market 

 for the purpose in question ; hence the little increase in the price of 

 agricultural produce noticed above, which we have no doubt will expe- 

 rience a retroaction before the end of the present month. 



AVERAGE PRICES OF GRAIN. 



«. d. s. d. 



Wheat . . • . . 5 3 to 5 6 per bushel. 



Barley 3 9 to 4 ditto. 



Oats 2 9 to 3 ditto. 



Beans 4 6 to 5 ditto. 



Every other kind of grain, as well as hay, selling at prices equally low. The 

 dairyman has no reason to complain ; for, amidst the genreal depression of the 

 markets, which lias unforlnnately contiiaud for a ruirions period, Cheese and 

 Butler haveunifoimly averaged good [uiccs. The same remark will apply to 

 Hutcheis' Meat, ' 



