1829.]] Agricultural Report. 697 



the last and present month, have been propitious, and tlie com of the latter lias' bfien saved 

 in considerably better condition than that of the early liarvest. In the mean time, the 

 weather has been most variable ; in some parts, fair and dry, in others, nearly deluged with 

 rain. A similar discrepancy attends the accounts given of the crops, both with respect to 

 quantity and quality; but on the whole, latter reports are somewhat more favourable than 

 the foniier. "Wheat appears to be decidedly the most deHcient crop in Scotland. Potatoes 

 on good and well cleaned soils have succeeded, but in general are probably one third below 

 tliat undefined ratio which is customarily deemed an average or profitable crop. Getting 

 up these roots has afforded present employment for that unfortunate surplus of labourers for 

 whos^ support the prospect is most appalling, after this last branch of harvest labour shall 

 have been finished. The corn markets have probably approached their lowest stage of 

 depression, at least as far as regards the finer qualities. Thresliing machines in constant 

 activity for an indispensable supply of money, have mainly contributed to the glutted and 

 depressed state of the market, and with the additional disadvantage of the wiieat being yet 

 neither in proper state for thresb.ing or sale. Seed wheat has indeed been sold uniwece- 

 dentcdly low, but too many farmers liave found great difficulty in providing money where- 

 with to purchase it. 



We regret to have nothing favourable to add to our last Report on the cattle crops. Tur. 

 nips are greatly deficient in the sb.e of the bulb, and it is to be apprehended, equally so in 

 quantity ; and mangel (so we liave Englished it) from which we have been accustomed to 

 jeceive such a bountiful supply, will prove nearly a total failure. It is recommended by an 

 extensive cultivator of this root, to draw only the largest and best, and to feed off the remain- 

 der with slieep, the leaves generally being the most valuable part of the crop. This scarcity 

 will occasion an u:iusual consumption of potatoes as food for live stock. The markets for 

 cattle, sheep, an d pigs, have been in a continual falling state, both with resjiect to fit and 

 .store stock. An additional reason to that of the scarcity of money subsists in the flooded 

 and dangerous state of the meadows, on wliich sheep cauuot be safely trusted. Sucli a imi- 

 versal slackness of business, and depression at the country fairs, as the late and present, has 

 perhaps never been witnessed. \^ast droves of stock have been offered to sale without find- 

 ing a single bidder, or with the sale of only a few individuals; and the feeders or jobbers 

 have been necessitated to drive them back, without either the prospect of a market or the 

 means of supporting them until the spring, when, no doubt, a demand for them must arise, 

 since at all events, the population must be fed. The lattermath grass, upon poor lands 

 especially, has faded and died away, through the excessive moisture and chilliness of the 

 season. Good fat weddershave been sold in the north at from 3|d. to 44d. per lb. ; beef 

 after the same rate, sinking the oftal : cow beef at 3d. to 4d., with scarcely any demand for 

 that kind of fat stock. 



This depression in the country markets, has given birth to various paragraphs in the 

 public papers, accusing the London butchers who serve families, witli still keeping up 

 their prices. Now, tliis is not quite correct, since so far as our experience reaches, those 

 butchers liave reduced their charges, upon the average, nearly or altogether, two-pence in 

 the pound ; and if they have not done so, it is obviously the fault of their customers; 

 IS'o doubt, however, but the butchers, as all other persons similarly situated would do, 

 have made a good thing of it. Of M'ool, Hops, Fruit, nothing new, far less favourable, 

 can be reiwrted. There seems to be no demand but for imported wool, very little business 

 doing in the hop markets, and the quantity of fruit is so extraordinary, that the growers 

 can 'scarcely find vent for it : a circumstance in which the London dealers find their 

 account. The slug has made its ap])earance in the 3'oung wheats, but thus far, the 

 damage is not stated to be considerable. The ancient and only remedy of pressure, 

 nwst be the farmer's chief dependence. 



The extreme distress of the country, and the universal bewailings and complaints, 

 form a topic at once disheartening and unj^acious. It is liighly probable that much error 

 subsists in the attribution of these calamities to temporary and inefficient causes. The 

 grand source of all lies much deeper, and must be sought in the favourite War, and its 

 legitimate offspring, the all-sur)iassing National Debt ! Thence tlie periodical alarms and 

 distress, which have occurred in regular succession, since tlie peace, e.-.ch exceeding the 

 former in degree of severity, until the present, which appears to call for some extraor- 

 dinary measures, far beyond those of mere palliation. It is not possible that the return 

 to a metallic currency, (the formerly professed favourite object of all ranks), of which 

 also there has been a va^t national stock, can have so suddenly originated this vast mass 

 of national distress ; or that one single year of defective crop, and unlimited imjiort, can 

 have beggared so large a proportion of our farmers. Tlicre seems no more soundness of 

 argument, or reason in tliis, than in i he apologies of many farmers for the foul state of tlieir 

 lands, which tliey attribute to tlic wetness of the season, instead of the constant, inveterate 

 habit of a weed-tillage. As we have before stated, associations are formed, and applications 

 to tJic Legislature ]>reparing, for a reduction of taxes, wliich too probably cannot be com- 

 plied witli, independently of danger to the present system : a reform wliicli does not appear 

 to be within the contemplation of tlie ap))licants. The tenantry coiujihun that rcr\Ls arc 

 forty to fifty per cent, too high ; but laiidtd pro))riclor.s must reduce llieir style of living 



M.M. New Scries V<.i.. ^'II1. No. Jf!. 4 IJ 



