.[ i88 ] 



1 1 th. Destroy rats and mice. 



The depredations of these vermin are too important to be over- 

 looked. A sensible farmer of my acquaintance, thinks that by 

 them, and birds, a thirtieth part of the corn of the kingdom is 

 devoured. Corn in barns they have free access to, and it is very 

 difficult to keep the mows on stathels free from them. If they are 

 not brought in from the corn field, a stick, a rake, pike, or any 

 other body carelessly placed against the mow, will introduce 

 them. 



Destructive therefore as they must be, it behoves all farmers to 

 make their slaughter a general concern, and it might be done by a 

 parish rate. 



1 2th. Introduce threshing machines. 



These are common in the northern parts of this kingdom, and 

 in Scotland, and from the accounts I have received, answer the 

 purpose, threshing the corn both well and expeditiously. There 

 can be but one objection, which is, the lessening of in-door labor in 

 the winter months. As a substitute for which, let the farmer house 

 all his cattle, and employ the barnmen in attendance upon them. 



1 3th. Let all unmalted corn be sold by -weight. 



The different measures of this kingdom, and the confusion in- 

 cident thereto, was so notorious, that great pains have been taken 

 by the Houses of Parliament to introduce one general standard 

 measure, and the acts of the legislature have been followed up by 

 the most active exertions of the magistrate. 



By these means the Winchester measure is pretty general, and in 

 respect to this county, I may add to the great benefit of the seller, 

 and the gre at loss of the purchaser. The calculation in respect to the 

 comparative price between the old and new measure, was formed 

 on the difference between eight and nine gallons, but this is erro- 

 neous j the old measure of the county was not less than nine gal- 

 lons 



