1808.3 Monthly Agricultural Report. - 93h 
bugs, (Coccinella septem-punctata). As far as I examined, upon a tolerably extensive common, 
~there was scarcely a bush on which there were not some of these insects. They had been roused 
from their torpid state by the unusual warmth of the weather, and had crawled forth from their 
winter retreats to enjoy themselves in the sun. 
I have not hitherto observed any of the water-lizards (Lacerta aquatica) in the ponds where 
I have been accustomed to find them about this season. 
The butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) is in flower. This shrub, which in a wild state 
usually grows in woods and thickets, is singular from having its blossom on a fruit-stalk, 
growing out from the middle of the leaf. 
Hampshire. 
ee a aa ee ay 
MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
THE easterly cold dry winds, which have prevailed almost during the whole of the present 
month, have continued to operate beneficially upon all the more early and more luxuriant 
“young wheat crops, by affording a seasonable check to their too forward and rapid growth 5 
while, on the contrary, the sharp keen dry frosts have had an unfavourable effect on most of 
the late thin crops of this valuable grain in many districts. ‘ 
The same causes have likewise been prejudicial to those bean crops which had been gotin at 
an early period, in the preceding months, and were now just beginning to appear above the 
ground, by giving a sudden check to their young growth, and in some more exposed situations, 
by almost destroying the young tender shoots. 
By the same means also the portions of turnip crops, which had remained from the consump 
tion of the preceding period, have been much destroyed, so that a much smaller quantity of 
this sort of cattle food had been left for use in the present month than is usually the case. 
The cabbage cole and other similar green cattle crops have, however as usual, stood the se» 
verity of the season, will and must now be of vast service to the farmer. 
_ The later sown tares, and other artificial grasses, have, on most of the better descriptions of 
land, continued to have a promising appearance, and will probably afford a very desirable supply 
of food for stock. 
The dryness of the whole month, has been particularly favourable for all the different ope 
rations of the field, which, from the state of the weather in the two precéding months had been 
unusually retarded. The business of ploughing and sowing has been performed over a very 
great extent of land 
From the very extravagant price of peas, a much more extensive space of land than usual, 
will be sown this year with barley and spring wheat, in situations where this last sort of crop is 
grown. A large portion of the latter has been already put into the grounds The work of 
making and repairing the fences has likewise been well executed throughout the whole of the 
month. 
There has been but a very poor supply of feed for the store stock which has been wintered in 
the pastures, of course they have not gone on to the usual proof in many places; nor has the 
home feeding been performed without extraordinary expence, except in cases where great atten~ 
tion had been paid to the rising of beneficial articles of cattle food for winter use. The dears 
ness of hay, straw, cake, potatoes, and other sorts of dry food, have contributed greatly to this 
circumstance. ' 
In the spring months, the scarcity of feed for stock will probably be considerable in many 
districts where improved husbandry is but little practised. 
The dryness of the weather, during the whole of the month, has been favourable to the 
lambing ewes, as well as the couples with young lambs. In many situations, sheltered by the 
hills and elevated grounds, the ewes, especially those of the South Down kind, have lambed 
down with much success, producing twins in great numbers. 
The state of the weather for this month, has also been favourable to the fattening sheep, 
which have gone on to much greater proof than during the last. 
All sort of fatted stock is upon the advance, and there is rather a scarcity of some sorts, as 
hogs. But store stock is nearly as in ourlast. Cows are rather cheaper, but low in condition. 
At the Corn Exchange, on the 21st. instant. the fluctuations in the price of wheat were but 
trifling. Barley is a little dearer, but little variation in malt of beans. Peas of all sorts ratheg 
lower, but oats higher, 
CSE: ans 
F ; S$. Se 
Wheat eisieis > clsimiawies 4O 56 70 Beans eeeeveevtneedoea0 52 57 
Bing dittoanivas. so. 0s ‘ Wa 6 EG IEWAIGtO isis: vicias cates 50 55 
PRLS sins mis teow ae 45 50 
ARICW:« (0 sini vieiwia dle nies 40 46 
BVRARE eras waisiae aie kine 64 74 
Wehite: Peas ss56 soe 160 170 
Grey dittocsrereeeee 50 59 
EG Ue ici sal agels dino da beberae miata lca.’ Sane 
PALA saigsiiys cnya.cc. 4) 5a wan 59 46 
Rape Seed per last.... 30 33 
Fine: F1gat - <irese0o00 55 60. 
Second pe aroeangeace 50 55 
Dooocoon 
In 
