1808. | Monthly Agricultural Report, | 383 
tremely pleasing. The consequence of the latter is that they seldom fail, in the end, of ac- 
complishing the particular object they are engaged upon. How useful a lesson do they in 
this respect, as well as in their unremitted industry, afford to mankind! 
Turkies lay their eggs. 
March 18. The atherines {4rherina bespetus of Linnzus} or Southampton smelits, as they 
are called in this county, have been caught earlier this year than usual. J this day saw 
some that were offered forsale; and upon enquiry, I find that these fish have been wpwa the 
coast for several days past. 
The rorch and dace are employed in depositing their spawn. 
Primroses are in flower. Ivy berries begin to drop. 
March 23. Buzz-flies (dombylius medius) are to be seen flying about sunny banks and hedges. 
The lesser periwinkle, (vinca minor) the hollow-rooted fumitory (Jiwweria cava), and the 
solid rooted fumitory (umaria soda) are in flower. 
March 25. The eggs of both ducks and geese begin to be hatched. 
The leaves of the currant tree appear; and the March marigold (Caltha palustris} and spurge 
laurel ( Daphne laureola) are in flower. 
March 31. Seven swaliows were this day observed. But they seem, in some measure, 
to have mistaken their season, and to have arrived too early, for their number did not much 
increase till about the middle of April. Indeed the weather is as cold for them as I ever re< 
collect it at this season. : 
Vegetation has hitherto been much impeded in consequence of the easterly winds. The 
fruit trees are more backward, in their blooming, than they have been known for several 
years past. “This, however, is covsidered favourable rather than otherwise, as it is probable 
when the warm weather commences, that the spring will be so far advanced that there will be 
no night frosts severe enough to injure them. 
Hampsbire. 
i 
MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
HE cold easterly winds, attended with rain, snow, and sleet, which have prevailed during 
the most part of the month, have been very uniriendly to the progress of vegetation, in 
consequence of which every thing is in an unusually backward state, many sorts of field crops 
having made scarcely any advance. The grass lands, even in those districts which are the 
most favourable to that sort of husbandry, are in a very backward condition having but little 
of that fine green appearance which is usual at this season, the crops must of course be late in 
being cut for hay. The same causes hawe likewise been far from fevourable to the rape, tare, 
rye, and other similar crops, cultivated as early spring cattle food, which last month promised 
well, should the weather have been suitable jor them. 
All these circumstances have contributed with various others to render the ae of ali sorts 
of stock extremely scarce, and consequently high in value, which has had the teadency of keep- 
ing store cat:le of most sorts much lower in price than would otherwise have been the case, 
while the effect in respect to fattened stocks has been that of raising it much higher. 
The turnip crops. and those of the thousand headed cabbage, which has lately become more 
extensively cultivated as a cattle crop, have, however, perhaps this season held out better chan 
usual as articles of cattle food. 
From the continued frosts and dryness of the last month, and that which preceded it, the 
tillage lands have scarcely ever worked in a more perfect manner, those spring crops which have 
been already put into the soil, having had the most complete preparation. Even on the heavy 
descriptions of land this nas been the case, especially where the beneficial practice of laying 
them well up in the autumn has been had recourse to The crops of oats, barley, peas, an& 
others of the spring kind have been already put in ona very considerable breadth of land in 
Many arable districts. 
The stocks of wheat inthe country are in most situations considerable, though the corn 
markets have not been lately so fully supplied, in consequence of which, the sales have been 
more brisk, and at somewhat higher prices. White peas are rather ee bot beans of both 
sorts bave looked up» ‘Lhe current priges at the Corn Exchange, on the 25th instant were 
these: 
Current price of Grain. 
Ss. $i & £. £0 
Wheat aieibiey tedle, «seraaee eae: 62 7 Beans oF) pr Ole mie 9x0 Be §2 58 
Ria NIN ini a) Sie) iii Sheed 73 76 "Tic deait@ a, datksa bates 50 55 
eT a eee eee eee 44 48 
MBE ccwercn viele is eds 43 48 
MORAL dts ow asain + ta 5 65 TS 
Agel ek Ee 158 168 
Grey ditto seessersce 30 55 
Farag cers joi nin. cepa ngs bose nite, MO Org ae 
UW ET 7: IPE a eee See 40 41 
Rape Seed per last.... 34 37 
Fine Flour 20 2s00% 55 60 
DORGNE ‘gin 6 Cad eo es os SQ 55 
The 
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