be supplied with colouring, i. e. sugar boiled down to the consistence of pitch; bitters, which is also sugar heated in a brass cauldron, till red hot; heading, and many other articles: so that not above one bushel of malt in four is used for this liquor. p. 72. Since the increased duty on malt, the lime kilns at Rudborough, near Petworth, formerly worked at Candlemas, for lime to be laid on the barley ground, have not been used this spring for that purpose, there being no demand for lime. .ს.

Very many farmers have malting conveniencies, by means whereof they can malt not only their own growth, but much morethey can run floorings of malt with scarce any chance of detection; and it is a fact, that this is done to a very great extent. I am well assured, that malt can be bought in distant counties, and carried to Bristol, on cheaper terms than it can be made there. The smuggler makes better malt, which makes better beer, than the fair trader. pp. 85, 86. Charles Hassall, Esq. Pembrokeshire.

We need say nothing in explanation of the magnitude and importance of this evil; which, should it become popular, as it is not, we hope, at present, will defy all the power and skill of the excise to subdue it.

Our readers will observe, that the cal

culations we have transcribed refer to corn; and that, were corn only in question, the inference would be undeniable, that agriculture is in a fair way to become unprofitable. But, in fact, a farmer draws his profits from various sources; and his sufferings by one kind of crop are compensated by his enjoyments from another. He deals in animal food as well as in corn, and this sometimes proves more advantageous than the direct produce of land. If he sells his beef and mutton to a profit, this is a part of his business; if his pork, or his veal, he is still a farmer. Different districts have, no doubt, different inconveniencies; and in some places the rates and expences are extremely onerous. But the rates in town keep,, at least, equal pace with those in the country: and when manufactures are stagnant, the evil is pregnant with distresses of a severer kind than those of what a farmer calls a bad time. Tithes, undoubtedly, also, as several correspondents with the Board observe, are burdens on agriculture; but no one has suggested a better mode of accomplishing the purposes of this impost. In Scotland however, there are neither

poor laws nor tithes ;—what thẹn is reported from the North? ....

Mr. Robert May writes from the county of Mearns, in Scotland, that in this district the price of labour is 93 per cent. higher than in 1790, yet the farmers are thriving. This he explains by observing, that this neighbourhood rears or feeds many cattle, of which Glasgow market makes no small consumption, being about Bullocks, cows, and heifers 7538 apq Veals ་། 67402 Sheep • 27316.97 Lambs 29621796 Hogs, or swine

329

upwards of 150 per cent. higher now than The prices of all these, hogs excepted, are in 1790.-The produce of the dairy has also advanced more than 110 per cent. It is a moderate calculation to say, a farmer will profit by each cow £12 per annum. From the improvement of all kinds of utensils, &c. the same quantity of work is performed with a less number of men and horses: formerly four horses were used to each plough, with a driver; now, few have any driver, and, mostly, two horses are sufficient. The breed better done, the land produces more than forof horses also is improved. The work being merly. But these advantages are not general throughout Scotland. Poor's rates very light,

400

STATEMENT OF THE POOR'S HOUSE AT GLASGOW, MARCH, 1804. In the Charity-house Children and frail people at nurse Families receiving support

393 435

The expense of this charity was last year £4663 13s. 7d. The fund is raised by an assessment on the monied interest within the

city; no person is assessed unless his property amounts to £300. Last year's assessment was 2s. 2d. per 100 upon £4,015,400.

Many other poor, but supported by collec tions at the church doors, on the Sundays. In the Mains parish, where I reside, of 1745 souls, 16 are supported by charity collected.

at the church door: I do not recollect that we were ever called upon for an extraordinary collection; and it is not consistent with my knowledge that any individual goes out to ask supply. The rental of the city of Glasgow (exclusive of those below £3, and which pay no town's dues) is £108,970. The assess ments for lighting the city, &c. &c. amount to 64d. in the pound. There is no other bur den on the inhabitants that I know of, but what is collected for Government. p. 96.

The report on corn-farming is not so favourable: the expences appear to have

increased considerably, and to be increasing. Yet where adequate capital is employed, improvements are rapidly advancing; and "in 1804, the ground is much cleaner and easier dressed, much richer, and requiring less dung-more ground will be ploughed, dunged, and hoed, with the same horses and hands, and in the same time, than in 1790; and there will be a saving of manure, labour, expense, and trouble-because, weeds always decrease as good husbandry advances." p. 90. This seems to be pretty nearly the state of corn-farming in Scotland.

We may fairly submit these statements to our readers, without any comments of our own but shall close our extracts by the recollections of an elderly husbandman on the proportionate prices of kine.

"I can remember, when a boy, fortyfour years since, going with my father to a neighbour's to buy horned cattle-from two to three, four and five pounds per head:At that time butter sold in Liverpool market, from 41d, to 51d. the lb. of 18 oz. My remark on this, from that time to the present is, that as butter has either gradually or rapidly risen in price, in the course of twelve months, or less, that cattle has done the same in proportion; and that as many pennies per lb. as butter sold for at Liverpool market forty-four years since, that the average price of a good fair calving cow sold for so many pounds, which is the case at this present time. From 1795, 1796, the average has been from £12 to £18. The average rise of butter has been nearly one farthing per ib.: butcher's meat nearly half a farthing per year in the lb. of 16 oz. Forty four years ago butcher's meat sold in Liverpool market from 1d. to 1d. and 2d. and 24d. the best prime meat: now it sells at 8d. and from

10d. to 1s. Pork from 5d. to 6d. but beef, mutton, and veal, keep up their prices. p. 60.

Unquestionably, the above forms an important article in our national statistics: when we connect with it the recollection of the sums annually paid for foreign corn imported; the occasional distresses arising from indifferent harvests, and the augmented price of every article of accommodation and comfort, it must be owned, that the responsibility attached to the ruling powers, as purveyors for the people, is very great; they ought never to forget the motto chosen by the worthy secretary,

1

Aratro dignus Honos GEORG. 19 Suspending at present, our consider

ation of corn, as the food of man, let us notice that part of our sustenance which, in this country, is derived from the breeding and management of animals. No. IV. and V. are memoirs on the advantages of milk. A cow of Mr. Cramp, of Lewes, yielded in 48 weeks, 1 day, 4921 quarts. Profit 241. 5. 11. Mr. Curwen made sundry experiments as to the feasibility of supplying milk, as an advantageous aliment, during winter. He does not consider his management as having been perfect: his new milk was sold at 2d. per quart: skimmed 1d. The cart was met before it reached the town, and the whole, 87 quarts daily, was disposed of, morning and evering, in little more than an hour.

The following averages shew the number of cattle and sheep annually sold in Smithfield.

1732 to 1740 1741 1749

1750

Cattle.

Sheep.

564,050

83,432

615,323

1794

108,075 707,456

1786

The reader will consider this statement in connection also with our account of the supply of this article in the days of Queen Elizabeth, Panorama, p. 240. We understand, that Mr. Mellish the contractor, has, in many successive years, delivered 3,500 oxen, in seven months, to the government stores: which differs greatly from the estimate of Mr. Edward Baishe, 1586.

Mr. Curwen agrees in the sertiment that

Every burden, which the necessity of the state has imposed since 1773, has been a direct tax on the plough, and consequently. operated as a bounty on turning land from tillage to grazing, The increasing demand

for workmen, for our manufactories, has united with other causes to enhance the price of labour, and operated as a further check upon agriculture. p. 145.

too, that the harvests are now later than heretofore, he considers the plants as being more exposed to this disease.

1,430,000

5 150,000 4 4,000,000 600,000

5,950,000

But he thinks that, 1,500,000 acres might be spared from the pastures appropriated to horses and cattle.-So that, if the labouring horses were fed on potatoes, carrots, and straw, and milch cows, and fattening cattle with green food, Mr. C, thinks that the quantity of acres mentioned above as what might be converted to the produce of human food, would be justified.

Mr. C. also states the gain of victual to the public, by converting the produce of land into milk, instead of into corn, at more than 4 to 1, which may tend to moderate the apprehensions of those who see nothing but calamity in the diminution of tillage, and the increase of pasture. Sir Joseph Banks has a paper on the cultivation of spring wheat, which we recommend to the attention of the practical farmer. This grain is valuable, and on certain occasions, on certain soils, exposures, &c. offers resources which may prove of the utmost importance to the community. The board has proposed premiums for its culture; and the knowledge of its advantages is increasing. Other experimentalists have also considered this subject. Freedom from mildew is a great recommendation of this species.

A paper on the mildew, by Mr. Jones of Somersetshire, deserves attentive consideration. This gentleman thinks that frost is the primary cause of this disease: that it acts by means of heavy and extensive dews, which being frozen, expand, whereby they chill and crack the parts of the plant on which they have settled, This, with other effects allied to the ope. rations of frost, Mr. J. supposes to affect late-sown wheats, and others not sufficiently forward to repel the attack, Thinking

culture recommended, but, from the va rieties of sorts produced by a single seed, when that method of raising potatoes is resorted to. Mr. C. inform us, that

In the year 1804 he raised eighty-fouf plants from seedlings of the preceding year, all from the same kind of potatoc. The produce of scarcely any two roots was alike, either in form, colour, size, or taste. Some ripened early in August; others were not ripe even when the frost set in; some were very prolific, others but moderately so; some scarcely to be catable; and others again (but were so rank and offensive to the palate as these were few in number, not more than three or four) were equal to the best potatoes now in use. One of them, indeed, was of so supérior a quality, that, unless it should degenerate on further cultivation, it will eclipse almost every other species known.

On what principle shall we account for these different propensities in the offspring of the same root? The seeds of the same individual plant, are sure, when cultivated, to produce many and very distinct varieties: yet the cuttings of this plant are expected to resemble each other in the fruit which they produce. This essay is valuable; it treats the subject at large, and in a commendable order.

"Potatoes which cut hard, or woody, will infallibly produce curled plants: while such as yield freely to the knife, may be expected to produce healthy ones." The practical cultivator knows the value of such remarks.

Mr. W. Pitt, of Wolverhampton, has contributed a paper on the subject of weeds; but some of what this worthy writer calls weeds, are capable of being turned to very good account. We must pass this article in order to mention another, by the same author, on the consumption of corn in Britain, and the means of increasing human subsistence.

Mr. P. takes a general and enlarged view of his subject, in which we cannot follow him; but must content ourselves with general commendation. It may, however, be proper to communicate few extracts to our readers.

The average price of the best wheat in

our population be increased, if grass land pays better than corn land, if our manufactures drain away our hands from the plough, if what can be enticed from labour are converted into soldiers or sailors, by the circumstances of the times, the necessity of our importing corn ceases, at once, to be a wonder.

Mr. P. also considers butcher's meat, with the quantity of land necessary to sustain the consumption of this kind of food: also, horses, their necessity, and support: improvements of various kinds: bounties, public granaries, and several other subjects.

We cannot resist our inclination to transcribe another passage.

Quantity of land necessary to subsist 8,000,000 of people in England, according to the present mode of living. Acres. Bread corn

Barley, for drink

3,000,000

1,500,000

Potatoes, &c.

500,000

Grass land, for butcher's

7

63

Grass land dairy

4,000,000

9

21,000,000

1801 March

June

September

1802 Average

1803 Do.

1804 First 7 months

Last 4 months

1805 Average

8,322,545

Population of Great Britain, about
England
Wales
Scotland

544,375 1,600,000

10,466,920

Agricultural population Mr. P. estimates at 10 in 100. Commercial population at 54 in 100. Number of houses in England, 1,467,870. Of families 1,775,420. Square miles 55,833, inhabitants to each, 152. France contains inhabitants on a square mile, 157. Naples, 203. China, 251. Mr. P. states the population in 1688 at 44 millions, The increased population since that period has unquestionably required a proportionate increase of cultivation and it might be thought that this increase had not taken place, whence the necessity for importation; but, the suddenness of the change from exportation to importation refutes this argument, If

quire 5,000,000 of acres, this makes 26,000,000: which is about the quantity of land in cultivation. The waste land is supposed to be about 6,000,000 acres.

The energy of our cultivation, then, should be directed to the utmost improvement of the lands at present under husbandry to a frugal use of our means of supporting those animals which circumstances induce us to retain; to the adoption of viands independent of the produce of land; to the accession of new lands; and to the diminution of such expenses as can be diminished on the productions now raised. Agriculture demands protection, encouragement, and honour. Our readers will perceive that the view we have set before them is not general as to all the resources of the kingdom, but particular, as to one very important branch of them. This is the province of the Board of Agriculture, and it gives us great pleasure to see, that the attention of this institution is directed to objects of magnitude and national interest; while the Correspondents of this establishment, in seconding the views of those who preside in it, have manifested a 'spirit and ability, which does them great honour.

Memorabilia of Perth; with the Rev. Alexander Duff's (late of Tibbermuir) traditional Account in the Town of Perth, of the Death of John, Earl of Gowrie, and his Brother, Mr. Alexander Ruthven, in 1600. 8vo. pp. 366, with a Map of the Town, and other Plates. Price 10s. Boards. Morison, Perth, 1806.

PERTH Contends for the distinction of sitting on the right hand of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in the convention of Burghs. This prerogative Glasgow disputes. Perth founds its pretensions on superior antiquity; on having been long the seat of royalty, and on various privileges derived from the Scottish monarchs. This volume leaves the point undetermined; and, most certainly, we shall not deviate from the same prudence. Perth, however, is an interesting city, and of late years, the improvements made in it, and the enlargements added to it in various places, have kept pace with that general spirit of exertion, which has pervaded the whole kingdom.

This volume opens with a guide to, and through, the city and its neighbourhood; marking those stations from whence the best views of the city and its adjacencies may be taken. These are, of course, more interesting to the citizens, or to travellers, than to general readers. Where the ancient abbey of Scone stood, a palace is now erecting; yet part of the aisle of the abbey still remains. The scene of a bloody fight between the Scots and Danes is now converted into a bleach field, believed to be the most extensive in the kingdom. Perth was formerly a place of great consequence in the linen trade; but now attends chiefly to cotton, which is woven in every fabric and qua⚫lity to a large amount, annually. Not far from Perth is Birnam Hill, where Birnam Wood was.

The second division of this work comprises Historical Memoranda, including from the earliest times, when the Romans established here a military station, to the present. On this occasion, we are infallibly presented with Agricola and his army, who, when they first saw the river Tay, and the adjacent plain on which Perth now stands, they cried out with one consent, "Ecce Tiber 1 Ecce Campus Martius!" by what they saw being

That

reminded of Rome, and its river. General is reported to have pitched his camp on the site of the present city. The history of Perth, with the list of its magistrates follows, and, as may be expected, various city events; especially about the time of the reformation, and the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. The character of that sovereign, we imagine, is not held in great veneration at Perth; as the historian transcribes pretty freely from Buchanan. The congregationalists not only "purged the kirks of idols," formerly, but are held in reverence to this day. The same spirit was active under James and Charles: yet the reception which this city gave to its sovereign, was generally very flattering. The following may serve as an instance of the attention paid to Charles.

His entry into Perth is recorded in the register kept by the Glover-calling, as follows: "His Majesty King Charles, of his gratious favour and love, denzeit (condescended) himself to vizit his own city, and burgh of Perth, the eight day of July, quhair, at the entrie of our South Inch port, he was receivet honourablie, be the Provest, Bailzies, and Aldermen, and be delivery of an speache mounting to his praize, and thanksgiving, for his Majestie's coming to viseit this our city, wha stayit upon horsebacke, and heard the sameyn patientlie, and therefra, convoyeit be our young men in guard, with partizans clad in red and whyte, to his ludging at the end of the South-gate, (Gowrie's palace), belonging now heritablie to George Earl of Kinnoul, Heigh Chancellor of Scotland, &c. The morrow thairefter came to our churche, and in his roval seat heard ane reverand sermone, immediately thairefter came to his ludgeing, and went downe to the gardine thairof, his Majestie being thayre set upon the wall next the wattir of Tay, quhair uppone was ane fleeting staige of tymber, cled about with birks, upon the quhilke, for his Majestie's welcome and entric, thretteine of our brethren, of this our calling of Glovers, with green cappis, silver strings, red ribbons, quhyte shoes, and bells about thair leggis, shewing raperis in thair handis, and all uther abulzement, dauncit our sword-daunce, with mony difficile knottis, fyve being under, and fyve above, upone thair shoulderis, three of theme dauncing through thair feet and about them, drinking wine and breking glasses. Quhilk (God be praisit) wes actit and done without hurt or skaith till any. Quhilk drew us till great chairges and expensis, amounting to the sowme of 350 merks, yet not to be remeinberit, because graciouslie acceptit be our