Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 002.djvu/746

Plowing is rather more forward than usual. As we ventured to predict in our last Report, the turnips have remained altogether uninjured by frost; and this has chiefly arisen, we have no doubt, from their having begun to shoot the seed during the mild weather in December; the epidermis being transformed into a somewhat woody fibre, and the whole vessels of the bulb probably acquiring more rigidity. The few fields that are found partially decayed, as usual at this season, are those that had been sown rather later than ordinary, upon fine light land, in a lone situation.

The consequence of this important crop being in such good preservation has been the maintenance of a larger stock; or rather the keeping the stock for a longer period; for the fact is, that there was but a small stock provided for turnip-feeding at the end of harvest, and a great proportion of these are already disposed of.

And although a great number, not only of hoggs, as usual, but even wedders, have been brought from the hill pastures to consume the superabundant feed, yet there have been doubts of the ground being cleared in time for the succeeding crop.

The young wheat looks rather sickly from the effects of repeated frosts and storms of rain.

Oats, which were expected to be high, have rather fallen of late, since all who had any cut before the 1st of October, and were keeping them in the stack for seed, have been fast thrashing them out for that purpose. It has been said, that it is not good to be over wise, and those only run a risk who began to buy for seed early in the market, trusting to their own judgment for their ascertaining the quality of the grain by the fallacious criterion of its appearance. The potato and late Angus varieties, which are commonly sown, are not at all scarce, although that called early Angus has been sold as high as 38s. Indeed such a very small difference between the prices of the boll of oats and the boll of meal has rarely occurred but after very early harvests. The price of potato and late-Angus oats for seed, has run between 28s. and 32s., and the best potato oats in Haddington (in the district where the best in Scotland are raised) were sold, on Friday the 27th February, at 30s.; and, on the 6th instant, at 32s. only.

Barley and wheat have continued almost stationary; and even since the ports were opened for importation there has been very little depression.

The demand for both fat and lean cattle is fast increasing, and the spring markets for sheep have commenced at prices very considerably above those of last year; and the demand for wool is now brisk, whereas this has usually been the slackest season.

The loss of sheep by the rot, in the enclosed districts of Berwickshire, where the improved Leicester is generally kept, has been quite unprecedented, and the calamity has extended over all the north of England in the same proportion. Does not this strongly indicate some great defect in this most important branch of rural economy? And would any be so presumptuous as to assert that no remedy can be applied?

It has been long known, that although sheep are ever so deeply affected with the disease, and be put to pasture upon a salt-marsh, they are speedily and effectually cured. And Lord Somerville has proven, beyond dispute, that giving to sheep a small quantity of salt, twice or thrice a-week, is equally efficacious. We have little doubt, that were the very obnoxious duty removed, so that farmers could obtain this invaluable product of our industry at the price it could be manufactured and sold for, the rot would soon be unknown in the country, and a value annually saved to the nation equal to the duty upon the article. But since we have alluded to the subject, this is not all; for, by the free use of salt mixed with hay and straw, their nutritive qualities are so much enhanced, that we are fully convinced that ten cattle and horses might be kept in good condition, where nine were half-starved before; so that it is a very moderate supposition, that the increased produce of animal food would also exceed the duty.

Were the manufacture and sale of salt free from duty and restriction, the effect would be like cultivating the waves of the sea, and from thence drawing food for another million of our people.

Note.―The boll of wheat, beans, and pease, is about 4 per cent. more than half a quarter, or 4 Winchester bushels; that of barley and oats nearly 6 Winchester bushels.