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FOREIGN CORN MARKETS.

CONSIDERABLE quantities of wheat, oats, and barley, have been imported from abroad during the last three months, in the hope of the averages advancing so as to enable the importer to relieve from bond at a moderate duty; but, since the month of July, the averages have been continually declining, and the duties have at last reached so high a rate as to act as a prohibition to importation, and two-thirds of the wheat in the country was liberated about the close of September, at the duty of 20s. 8d. per quarter. It has now advanced to 23s. 8d., with every prospect that it will reach 26s. 8d. per quarter before it begins again, to recede.

Comparatively little duty has been paid on any other description of grain, as it is probable that, at present, the duty will not go higher; while on barley and beans, as well as on peas perhaps, a decline of several shillings in the duties will in all probability take place within a few weeks.

The losses on the recent importations of wheat must have been very great; and upon the wheats still in bond they are not likely to be less, at least till the spring months, when perhaps the improved condition of the new wheats may operate favourably upon the averages, thereby reducing the duty, and consequently the cost, to the importer.

At this period of the season, it may not be uninteresting to be informed of the state of the crops on the Continent, so far as accounts have yet reached

us.

'HAMBURGH. Although the many showers of rain, and the unfavourable state of our atmosphere, during the critical time, when the growing crops of our winter grain were approaching to maturity, naturally gave rise to serious apprehensions respecting the final issue of the harvest, especially of wheat, still we have been favoured with a much more abundant, and also better conditioned harvest of wheat than could reasonably be expected from the state of the weather. In some peculiar districts, the kernel of the wheat has been partially injured by the unpropitious weather, and the ravages of obnoxious insects; but, from the opinions generally prevailing here, grounded on the inspection of many samples of new wheat, it would appear that this year's grain has been subject to much less injury by sprouting, and will prove of a considerably finer and heavier quality, than last year's produce. The rye and rape seed crops have also yielded abundantly, but they have not been secured in good condition, in consequence of the continued rains when the grain was in a state of maturity.

Respecting the produce of spring grain, we are led to conclude, that, so far as relates to fine malting qualities of barley, the crop in the upper country has been reaped, not only in considerable quantity, but also of a fine quality. As to oats and buck-wheat, we cannot speak with confidence, as a good deal of both still remains in the fields, and we are consequently unable to give any just opinion respecting these plants.

COPENHAGEN.-A continuation of most unfavourable weather during the summer blasted the hopes of very fine crops. However, as far as it is possible to judge, before the corn has been brought to the test of thrashing, the injury done does not appear to be so great as might have been feared; and though this year's produce must be very various in point of quality, its superiority over that of last year appears unquestionable. This relates to all sorts of grain except rye, the crop of which turns out very deficient, and will prove at least one-third short of an average. Our yearly export of this article averages about 150,000 quarters, but this year we shall want foreign supplies.

Wheat is likely to be an average crop. In some parts of the country it has been better secured than in others, and we shall have a great variety of qualities, but, in general, it will prove superior to the produce of last season. We have seen samples, weighing 59 lb. per bushel, from districts which last year hardly averaged 56 lb. Fine bright qualities cannot, however, be expected after so very wet a season. The annual export of this grain from Denmark is computed at 150,000 quarters.

Barley is a plentiful crop; but it is exceedingly various in quality, and much care will be required in making proper selections; the weight in general runs from 50 lb. to 53 lb. per bushel, and in this respect is better than the crop of last year; but a large proportion being blighted and discoloured, bright samples will prove scarce. Our export of barley averages 300,000 quarters per annum. Oats are abundant, and the quality proves good as to weight: the colour is rather indifferent: the yearly average export of this article is about 250,000 quarters. Peas will be under an average; in some districts the crop has been secured early, and proves of good quality; in others, the injury done by sprouting, amounts to nearly a total failure: yearly export of this article about 200,000 quarters. No part of the present crop has yet appeared for sale, and there being no stock left from last year, our quotations must be nominal. Unless the mårkets in England should take a start, or the demand for Norway or Sweden interfere, prices will probably open at rather reduced rates.

BREMEN. The general heavy rains that fell during the time of reaping, caused considerable damage to all sorts of grain, and our farmers, desirous that their crops should not be totally lost, and to save as much as possible, were too hasty in housing during the unfavourable weather, and the damage thus done to the quality has been great. Barley, oats, beans, and peas, will yield fully a third less than they did last year.

Here and in the neighbourhood the stock of old corn is quite trifling; unless a demand from England springs up, it is probable that our prices will not advance.

Pomeranian, Mecklenburgh, Hanoverian, and Brunswick wheats may be quoted from 44/@48/. Inferior, 40/@ 44. Barley, 21/@ 23. Oats, 14/ @15/. Beans, 25/ @ 28/ per imperial quarter free on board.

ANTWERP-The late favourable weather which we have experienced, has enabled our farmers to secure a good deal of their rank crops, which, if a change had not taken place, must have been almost entirely lost. The sup

plies of new wheat are not more than are required for our daily wants, and for good lots, weighing 60 @ 61 lb., a price equal to 50s. continues to be paid. Of old wheat scarcely any is left, and the little that remains is so affected by weevil and maggot, that no shipment of it can be properly made.

The demand for all kinds of grain is steady. Our own wants, and an occasional purchase for exportation for the neighbouring French markets, are sufficient to maintain our prices; and, as the deliveries of new grain are composed of very various qualities, which tend to confirm our opinion of the inferiority of the crop, no decline can be anticipated, but, on the contrary, present prices will probably be maintained.

DANTZIG. In all our neighbouring provinces, and in Poland, the weather has been pretty favourable for havesting;-wheat, rye, barley, and a considerable proportion of the peas, have been housed in fine condition. The quality of the new wheat, as well as of all other grain, is fine, healthy, and heavy. Some samples of new wheat that have appeared, weigh 152 lb. (Dutch scale), and of rye 124 lb. @ 128 lb.

Wheat and barley are estimated to yield above average crops; but rye considerably below, having suffered by the severe frost in winter. Prices here will, in a great measure, be regulated by the demand from England.

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THE

QUARTERLY

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE.

ON NATURAL PASTURES*. By W. MACGILLIVRAY, Esq. A. M. &c.

In commencing an attempt to exhibit a general view of the pastures of Scotland, it is unnecessary to offer any remarks respecting the advantages likely to result, in a commercial and agricultural country, from attention to a subject so intimately connected with its prosperity. I have only here to observe, that the outline which I present is exclusively the result of personal observation, and to express a wish that they who find it inadequate to the conveyance of a full impression, may reflect that the entire development of the subject would occupy more space than can be allowed to it in a work like the present.

If we make a general survey of Scotland, we shall find that country divided into three great portions, the northern, the

• Though this description of Natural Pastures bears relation chiefly to Scotland, it is in a great measure applicable to the mountainous and hilly parts of England also, as well as to those of Ireland. It will not, however, answer as a general description of the vegetation of a particular zone, confined within definite limits of latitude; for on both sides, on the continent of Europe and on that of America, the vegetation differs greatly within the same latitudes, more especially in the latter continent. Nor can the author presume to make general reference to all parts of the British Islands. In fact, it is much more useful to describe certain portions of them separately. Similar views of the pastures of England and Ireland would afford data for comparison, and would show in what respect these countries, and that here described, agree with each other.

VOL. II. NO. VIII.

L

middle, and the southern. The first of these is separated from the second by the Moray Firth on the eastern side, the Linnhe Loch on the western, and the valley extending from Fort William to Inverness, occupied in the greater part of its extent by lakes; the second is separated from the third by the Firth of Forth on the one side, the Firth of Clyde on the other, and a line drawn from Glasgow to Stirling. The third district is bounded toward the south by the Solway Firth, and the English frontier. The northern division is almost entirely mountainous, a small portion of the eastern coast alone presenting an exception to this general character. Of the middle division, the western half is also mountainous, which is also the case with a great portion of the other half, so that the littoral districts alone, and several extensive vales, straths, and carses, together with the greater proportion of Fife, Kinross and Clackmannan, are comparatively low. The southern division exhibits a great central range of mountainous and hilly ground, but possesses more extensive low tracts than either of the others, from which it differs in having the western parts flat.

The fundamental disposition of the ground may be said to be in all parts mountainous. I shall therefore commence with the description of the mountain pastures, and for the purpose of exhibiting the essential characters of these pastures, shall select the elevated ground situated at the sources of the Dee in Aberdeenshire, which I have examined with some attention. None of the Scottish mountains reach the line of perennial snow; but, in this district, their elevation is such, that patches of snow are to be seen in hollows at the warmest season, and remain undissolved until the next fall adds to their extent. The bleak summits of these mountains, exposed to the depressing influence of a low temperature, boisterous winds, and abundant rains, covered for a great part of the year with snow, and presenting either bare rock, or a shallow gritty soil, produce few plants of any description, and hardly a dozen of those which are selected by sheep as their food. These latter consist of three or four carices, or hard grasses, one or two junci or rushes, some tufts of Scirpus cæspitosus, or common clubrush, together with Festuca vivipara, and one or two other

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