82 



Agriculture of Scotland. 



tercourse enhanced materially the value of our supplies from 

 abroad, which at one time, indeed, were nearly cut off by the pecu- 

 liar tactics of the enemy. These causes induced a greater attention 

 to be devoted to agriculture here^ But, above all, the great rise in 

 price, chiefly attributable to the frequent recurrence of bad seasons 

 at this time, tended to give an extraordinary impetus to agricultural 

 energy. The average price of wheat, which had been under 50.9. 

 per quarter during the twenty years immediately preceding 1 795, 

 rose, in that year, to the average of 81s. 6c?., and in the subsequent 

 year at one time reached 96^. The price, however, recurred to 

 the average of 54s. in 1798, owing to the favourable seasons of 

 1 796 and 1 797 ; but a series of excessively high prices followed,* 

 which was attended by a great degree of prosperity to all persons 

 engaged in agriculture. No doubt, this great rise of price w'as 

 occasioned chiefly, as we have noticed, by a cause which operated 

 also to lessen considerably the disposable quantity of farm produce ; 

 but it has been demonstrated^ that the effect of a deficient crop is 

 to raise the price of the produce of the land greatly beyond the 

 ratio of the defect, and, consequent!}', that a larger sum, in ordi- 

 nary cases, is distributed am^ong the growers after a year of defici- 

 ency, than is derived from medium or abundant crops. Besides, 

 higher prices, from whatever cause, act in enhancing the estima- 

 tion of the profits of that pursuit from which they are derived. 

 Hence the profits obtained from agriculture came to attract atten- 

 tion, and a liberal application of capital ensued. Those engaged 

 in the cultivation of the soil eagerly sought after information in 

 their profession — more anxiously observed and copied the improve- 

 ments of their more intelligent neighbours — and a praiseworthy 

 spirit of rivalry generally obtained. The liberal premiums offered 

 by the Board of Agriculture, and subsequently by the Highland 

 Society, fostered this spirit, and were of great service in further 

 diffusing the knowledge of approved experiments, and of the appli- 

 cation of more correct principles. 



The exertions of the Highland Society, now applied more ge- 

 nerally to agriculture throughout Scotland, came more prominently 

 into operation ; and to the valuable publications of that patriotic 

 body, and to the voluminous statistical information published 

 under the direction of the National Board of Agriculture, are 

 mainly owing the unexampled rapidity with which the improved 

 system of husbandry spread over the land. Liberal premiums 

 continued to be given by these munificent institutions, for com- 

 munications on useful and approved details in the practice of 



* Of the 20 years from 1794 to 1814, the average price of wheat was 

 895. 7 d— Eton Tables. 

 t Young's Annals of Agriculture for 1796, vol. xxvi. p.469. 



