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MONTHLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

THE few beans and pease already above ground look healthy. Spring-sowing generally backward, but the lands now work well. The wheats recovered from the degree of damage received during winter, and in a flourishing state upon all good lands; but, on the cold and wet, improvement must be waited for, and will depend on the mildness of the spring. Some have still a yellow and unhealthy appearance.

Accounts from various parts speak well of the remaining turnips, and the cattle are said to be in a very thriving state. Winter tares, rye, young clovers, and grass, appear very pro mising; and the clover-seed of last season has proved equal in quality to the finest of former years, indeed can scarcely be remembered so fine. Hay very scarce.

Stock of cattle in the country abundant, cows rather dearer. Pigs becoming very plentiful, the price of barley, pease, and beans, having been for some time favourable to the breeder, and a stock of pigs being soon raised. The stock of wheat in the country is universally reckoned considerable, still more so of barley, on which a farther depression of price may be expected, a circumstance extremely favourable to the public, since not only is the breeding of pigs encouraged, which has been defective so many years, but vast additional quantities of pork and bacon will in consequence be made, and the price of those necessary articles greatly reduced in no great length of time. Should another large crop of wheat succred, a great revolution may be expected in the price of all the necessaries of life, an event which will be accelerated by our constant large imports of provisions from Ireland, where also breeding and stock-feeding is in a state of rapid increase and improvement. The fall of lambs has been very large and successful, and they are likely to be very early fit for market. The report from all quarters favourable.

In Smithfield market, Beef fetches from 5s. to 6s. per stone of 81b. ;-Mutton, from 56. 4d. to 6s. ;-Veal, 6s. to 7s. 8d. ;-House Lamb, 12s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. per quarter ;-Pork, 63. to 75. 4d. ;-Bacon, 6s. 8d. to 7s. 4d. ;-Irish, 5s. 4d. to 5s. 10d. ;-Fat, 4s. to 4s. 4d. ;Skins, 20s. to 30s.

Middlesex, March 25.

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT.

BRITISH TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.-We regret to state that the manufactories in Lancashire of cotton goods, at Nottingham of hosiery, &c. continue in the same deplorable way, for want of exportation to the Continent, and failures of the most respectable houses take place every day. We hope the intended relief offered by government of six millions to the merchants and manufacturers, may give some favourable turn to the present dreary aspect of affairs, but we apprehend that three times the sum would not be sufficient for the intended purpose.

The prices of West-India cotton wool is merely nominal, there being no purchasers in the market for the article from the foregoing reasons. Dye-stuffs of every description are at reduced prices, and West-India produce is flat in the market, a little advance of about 35. per cwt. has taken place in raw sugar, but coffee continues at nominal prices, and no sale whatever for it. The manufactories of Birmingham, Sheffield, &c. of iron and brass goods, &c. are at a complete stand, and thousands of poor workmen totally out of employ.

In consequence of the high price of bullion, the Bank of England now receive the 5ɛ. dollars at the rate of 5s. 6d. each, and issue them at the same rate, the dollar being worth nearly that value at the present high price of silver; in consequence of this arrangement the funds have fluctuated a little.

The linen market at Dublin is just over, and, owing to the present unsettled state of affairs with America, no purchases whatever were made for the United States, consequently the articles of linen, sheetings, &c. went off at reduced prices, and the market turned out an uncommonly bad one for the manufacturers and bleachers of the North.

FRANCE. Some kind of intercourse with respect to commercial correspondence with this country has at length taken place, by the late arrival of mails from Germany, which brought letters from France dated four months back, and up to very recent dates. By this conveyance it appears that Bonaparte's burning decree still continues in full force, and the most rigid exertions are used to prevent any kind of commercial intercourse with Great Britain. Yet our government have granted licenses to vessels to proceed to the continent, with permission to bring home seeds, &c. but all other French goods are prohibited.

PORTUGAL. The situation of this country has put a total stop to all kind of commerce, except the export of their wines, which, from the scarcity of wine, and the want of brandies to make them up, have got up to the enormous price of 601. per pipe, exclusive of duty, excise, and charges, which, if added to the first cost, would bring port wine to a market at no less a price than 1201. per pipe! There are no old wines in the country, consequently the prices are likely to advance still higher.

SPAIN. The commerce with this country is chiefly confined to Cadiz, and that only in

the

the indigoes, cotton-wool, and hides, &c. of South America, exported thence to this country
for sale on commission. The wines, as sherry, &c. are very scarce and dear, and old wines
not to be had at any price; the London docks, however, have a stock of the article nearly
equal to five years' consumption, and prices are from 851. to 1101. per butt, duty, &c. paid.
WEST INDIES.-By the last mails we have been informed of a large fleet's arrival off
Barbadoes bound for Jamaica, and the other islands, without the loss of a single ship. This
information gave general satisfaction to our underwriters at Lloyd's, who lately have suffered
severely by the captures made by French privateers in our channel.
by this fleet, will no doubt arrive at a very favourable market, as beef, pork, butter, &c. were
The provisions sent out
scarce in the islands, and in much demand. British manufactured goods were selling at full
20 per cent. under cost, and the markets completely glutted.

Our

SOUTH AMERICA.-The markets here are overstocked with all kinds of Manchester goods, &c, &c. and sale cannot be forced at even prices considerably under first cost. speculators at Liverpool and Manchester experience daily the folly of shipping every kind of inferior goods to the Brazils, and many of them would now wish their goods even at home, to satisfy their creditors with some kind of payment or security for the debts unguardedly. contracted.

Current Prices of Shares in Navigable Canals, Docks, Bridges, Roads, Water Works, and Fire and Life Insurance Companies, at the Office of Messrs. Wolfe and Co. No. 9, 'Change Alley, Cornhill, 22d March, 1811.-Croydon Canal, 291. per share.-Grand Junction ditto, 2701. ditto.-Grand Surry ditto, 981. ditto.-Huddersfield ditto, 311. 10s. ditto.-Kennet and Avon ditto, 421. 10s. ditto.-Leeds and Liverpool ditto, 1811. ditto.-Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union ditto, 1121. ditto.-Lancaster ditto, 271. ditto.-Rochdale ditto, 531. ditto Thames and Medway ditto, 451. per share premium.-Wilts and Berks ditto, 361. per share. Worcester and Birmingham ditto, 411. ditto.-Commercial Dock, with the new share attached, 1631. per share.-East India Dock, 1291. per cent.-East Country Dock, 801, per share.-London Dock Stock, 1291. per cent.-Ditto Scrip, 251. per cent. premium West India Dock Stock, 1661. per cent.-Commercial Road, 1361. ditto.-East London Water Works, 1881, per share.-Grand Junction ditto, 131. per share, premium.-Kent ditto, 271. ditto.-South London ditto, 1201. per share.-West Middlesex ditto, 1101. ditto.-Albion Insurance Office, 571. ditto.-Globe ditto, 1201. ditto.-Imperial ditto, 801. ditto.

The average prices of Navigable Canal Property, Dock Stock, Fire-office Shares, &c. in March, 1811, (to the 25th) at the Office of Mr. Scott, 28, New Bridge-street, London.' Trent and Mersey, or Grand Trunk Canal, 11701. the last half-yearly dividend at the rate of 451. per share clear, per annum..-Birmingham, 10601. dividing 421. clear.-Coventry, 8551. dividing at the rate of 321. per share,-Swansea, 1671.; the last dividend 81. per share. -Monmouthshire, 1291.-Grand Junction, 2711. to 2701.-Warwick and Napton, 2901. dividing 101, per share.-Warwick and Birmingham, dividing 91.-Shrewsbury, 1451. dividing 81.-Kennet and Avon, 431. 10s. to 421.-Wilts and Berks, 451. to 351. 10s.-Roch dale, 551. to 541.-Ellesmere, 801.-Union, 1101.-Grand Union, 81. discount.-Lancaster, 261. with dividend of 11. per share.-Ashby-de-la-Zouch, 241.-Worcester and Birmingham old Shares, 401.-New ditto, 11. 10s. premium.-Croydon, 301.-West India Dock Stock, 1671. to 1651.-London Dock, 1291. to 1271.-Ditto Scrip, 261. per cent. premium.-Commercial Dock old shares, 1591. with new share attached.-Albion Assurance, 571. to 561. Globe, 1201.-Atlas, par.-Rock, 11. 1s. to 19s. premium.-East London Water Works, 1891.-Grand Junction ditto, 121. 10s. premium-London Institution, 681. 5s.-Strand Bridge. 121. discount.-Vauxhall ditto, 281. discount-Dover-street-road, 10s. to 11. premium.Commercial Road, 1351. per cent. ex half-yearly dividend. 31.-The monthly sale is on the first Friday.

NATURALIST's MONTHLY REPORT.

FEBRUARY.

Tharing Month.

The rivers swell,

Of bonds impatient, sudden from the hills,
O'er rocks, and woods, in broad brown cataracts,

A thousand snow-fed torrents shoot at once.

DURING the whole of the present month the weather has been extremely changeable; and on eighteen of the twenty-eight days there has been rain, viz. on the 1st, 24, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, and from the 21st to the 28th, inclusive. On the 15th the rain was very heavy, and continued so, almost without intermission, through the whole day. There was a frost in the night of the 16th, but it only continued until the following morning,

On the 1st the wind was south-west; in the afternoon of the 23, south-east; on the 34 and 4th, south-west; 5th and 6th, south-east; 7th and 8th, south-west; 9th, easterly; rom the 10th to the 14th, westerly; on the 15th, east; 16th, northerly; 17th, 18th, 19th, MONTHLY MAG, No. 211. southerly;

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We had

southerly; 20th, north-west; 21st, south-south-west; 22d and 238, south-west; 21th,* south-east, and south; 25th, 26th, and 27th, west; and on the 28th, south-west. strong gales on the 1st, 3d, 8th, and 26th, but particularly on the 3th. February 3. There was a peculiarly high tide, without any apparent cause; but in the course of the day a heavy gale blowing from the south-west accounted for it. Garden pease begin to appear out of the ground.

February 4. species of podura, or spring-tail, is come out of its place of concealment, and runs about in the day-time upon old mossy walls. These insects, like all others of the same tribe, have a kind of elastic tail, which is folded under the body, and by means of which they are enabled to leap to very considerable distances. This power is evidently given to them for the purpose of aiding their escape from enemies. It is a singular circumstance that one species of these insects, (viz. podura aquatica of Linnæus,) is found usually on the surface of the water, on which it leaps with nearly as much agility as the others do on hard substances.

February 4. The lark and redbreast sing. On sunny and sheltered banks, vegetation has begun. The leaves of several plants have shot out of the ground in the course of the last seven or eight days.

February 5. There are now a great number of lambs on the commons and in pastures. From this day to the 14th, the weather was in every respect so unfavourable, that I was scarcely able to walk out in the fields during the whole interval. I had, however, an opportunity of remarking that the leaf-buds of the gooseberry and lilac were becoming green. February 14. The larch and yew are both in flower.

Hitherto there has only been one salmon caught in our rivers during the present month. I observed a dark coloured butterfly this day, but it was at such a distance that I could not discover the species. It was doubtless either papilio io, or urtica.

The flowers of laurustinus die and drop off. Coltsfoot (tussilago farfara) and ivy-leaved speedwell (veronica bederæ folia) are both in flower.

February 16. Rooks are beginning to pair.

The catkins of two or three species of willows appear; and the leaves of cuckoo-pint (arum maculatum) spring from the ground.

February 17. Bees of different kinds are busily employed apparently in collecting the pollen from the catkins of the willows. Small insects are flying about in every direction. The blackbird and thrush sing.

The season is not a forward one. The late severe frosts, and the succession of wet weather since, have tended very considerably to check the progress of vegetation.

February 20. In sheltered gardens hyacinths and mezereon are in flower.

February 26. Rooks are employed in forming their nests; and partridges begin to pair. The buds of trees begin to swell. Daffodils are in flower.

February 27. Water crow-foot (ranunculus aquatilis) is cut for the purpose of feeding cattle.

Hampshire.

MONTHLY BOTANICAL REPORT.

SINCE our last Report two numbers of the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE have appeared, the contents of which we shall proceed to enumerate, and occasionally to comment upon. Aloe foliolosa. Under this article Mr. Ker has given a new generic character of the genus ALOR; the principal additional character in which appears to us to be its having winged seeds. This species is nearly allied to A. spiralis, from which, and from the cushion-aloes it differs remarkably in habit from the lengthening of the caudex, still closely covered with the foliage.

Alöe recurva, vegesa of Lamarck, and Aloe mirabilis, both belong to that division of the genus which bear a bilabiate corolla with the lacinia rolled back.

Aloe virens. This is one of Mr. Haworth's species which is not takes up in the Hortus Kewensis, and was not before mentioned by any author; it has long scarlet reflexed flowers. Alve margaritifera, y. minima. Minor has been before published under the name, however, of media.

Aloe arachnoides, B. pumila; the atrovirens of Decandolle.

Aloe mitreformis, 6. brevifolia. This plant is considered as a distinct species by Haworth, but the brevifolia of the new edition of the Hortus Kewensis and of Decandolle is a different plant; the prolifera of Haworth. Mr. Ker has remarked that the synonym quoted from Decandolle in the Hortus Kewensis belongs to a, and not to B, to which it is there errone ously referred. We are glad to see that this ingenious botanist continues to illustrate this dificult genus, the more particularly, as, from the succulent nature of these plants, very little satisfaction can be obtained from consulting different herbariums in regulating the synonyms. It is especially satisfactory too, that so many of the drawings are made from Mr. Haworth's collection, because this gentleman's monograph of this genus in the 7th volume

volume of the Linnæan Transactions being the most complete of any we have, these figures serve to identify his species with certainty, as being taken from the same plants as he has described; and thus give an additional value to his work.

Strumaria crispa, the Amaryllis crispa of Jacquin and other authors. This article contains a new generic character, and an enumeration of what Mr. Ker considers as a species belong ing to this species.

In Dr. Sims's department we find

Hibiscus surattensis, a beautiful and singular coloured figure, perhaps indeed no figure at all, figures may not all belong to a different species.

for so short a time.

annual, of which we have not before any for it is rather doubtful whether the othes It is a pity that the flowers are expanded

Diosma pulchella. This beautiful little shrub well merits its name, and, as Diosma is become so extensive a genus, we can but wish that Bergius's division at first adopted by Linnæus and afterwards given up, had been retained, and the name of Hartogia applied to all such as had three capsules, without regard to the separation of the sexes.

Justicia nervosa. The Eranthemum pulchellum of our gardens, where it has long been known as a very ornamental inhabitant of the stove, producing its fine violet-blue flowers through the greater part of the year. Dr. Sims remarks, that, as this plant was referred to Justicia with the trivial name of pulchella by Ker before the publication of Vahl's work, and since adopted by Roxburgh, the latter name ought to have been preferred by the author of the Hortus Kewensis to that of Vahl, who evidently was not aware of its being the Eranthemum pulebellum. Linnæus took up the genus Eranthemum from an imperfect specimen, not improbably of this very plant, in Herman's herbarium. Notwithstanding these reasons, however, Dr. Sims has continued Vahl's name, because it is adopted in the Hortus Kewensis, which he considers as being likely to become the standard for names of plants cultivated in our gardens. This is also the Ruellia varians of Ventenat's Hortus Celsi.

Nymphaea nitida. This is considered as a new species of Water-lily, having a near affinity with N. odorata, but not, like that, hardy enough to bear our winters, when planted in an open pond, but requiring the treatment of a tropical production. Its native country seems to be unknown.

Nymphæa rubra (var. B.) rosea. Native of the East Indies, and a very magnificent plant. Lotus australis. Not unlike in habit to our Lotus corniculatus, but producing delicate Crimson flowers.

Cnicus spinosissimus. By the help of the Linnæan herbarium, Dr. Smith has confirmed to Dr. Sims the truth of Haller's assertion, that Gmelin's Siberian plant is different from this, although Willdenow, and most other botanists, continue to quote the Flora Sibirica in the synonimy of this species.

English Botany, for the two last months, contains

Chenopodium botryodes. This is considered by Dr. Smith as a new species, first pointed out to him by the accurate Mr. Wigg, growing near Yarmouth. We should be inclined to think it may be a variety of Ch. rubrum for any thing Dr. Smith has told us here.

Ulmus glabra. We have often been puzzled to make out our elms in our walks. It ap pears that there are more species than we were aware of, and that they have not generally been understood. Mr. Forster, who has paid so much attention to English botany, is of opinion, that Dr. Smith's Ulmus campestris, t. 1886, is the Ulmas minor folio angusto scabra of Goodyer and Ray, and very little known out of Norfolk. And that his suberosa, t. 2161, is Ulmus vulgatissima folio lato scabro of those writers.

Meum athamanticum. Native of Scotland and the northern parts of England and Wales, There seems to have been much difficulty in determining to what genus to refer this plant. Linnæus in the Species Plantarum called it Athamanta Meum, in his Systema Vegetab. he removed it to thusa. Jacquin restored the old name, which has been since generally folIowed.

Potamogeton gramineum; about which there appears to have been some difficulty, às Lightfoot mistook the plant altogether."

Lychnis alpina, first discovered in this island by Mr. Geo. Don, on rocks near the summit of Clova mountains, in Angusshire.

Euphorbia Larbyris. Although we suspect that this plant owes its origin to our gardens, being found chiefly in the neighbourhood of towns, yet it establishes itself so perfectly in many places, that it may have as good a right to be considered as belonging to the English Flora as some others.

Centaurea Isnardi, from the island of Jersey. There is a species of Centaurea which appears to us to be distinct from nigra, though probably confounded with it, so common that we have found it among the straw in hackney-coaches. It has no blackness about it; has generally a nearly undivided stem; leaves very narrow, and terminating in a sort of petiolus ; what is this?

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Asplenium viride. Trichomanes ramosum of Linnæus and other authors is a variety of this. splenium

Asplenium alternifolium, à sort of intermediate species between septentrionale and Ruta muô Yaria; discovered in the south of Scotland by Mr. Dixon. It has been long known in Germany. We suspect it may be more frequent than is supposed in our island, as we recollect to have found specimens, which we were at a loss to determine whether to refer to septentrionale or Ruta muraria.

Our country readers will be pleased to hear that the second volume of the Hortus Kew: ensis is printed, and will speedily be published. The continued publication of this useful and scientific work is not likely to be retarded by the death of Mr. Dryander.

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METEOROLOGICAL REPORT.

Observations on the State of the Weather, from the 24th of February, 1811, to the 24th of March, 1811, inclusive, Four Miles N.Ñ.W. St. Paul's.

Barometer.

Highest, 30-20. March 12. Wind S.E.

Thermometer.

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The small quantity of rain fallen since our last Report requires no notice at present, it shall be stated in the next. The beginning of the month was showery, but the temperature has been remarkably mild, and the weather, in general, serene and bright. Of the twentyeight days, eighteen have been what we usually denominate brilliant, through the whole course of many of them scarcely a cloud intervened between us and the sun's rays. The average height of the thermometer is 467, this is nearly four degrees higher than the mean 'temperature of the corresponding month of last year. The spring is accordingly remarkably forward, which indicates, we fear, no good to our early crops, as much severe weather may still be looked for, which will infallibly cut off the young blossoms. The wind during the last three days has come from the east, though it has been chiefly in the west during the month.

Highgate.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Our Wigan Correspondent has mistaken COMMON SENSE, who quoted the Bakewell "System as a parallel, not as an analogous case.

We shall be glad to receive communications detailing the effects of the Paper Money system, on the prices of particular commodities; and on the operation of indefinite ·Paper Capitals, thrown by a certain Public Body into the hands of middle-men, or speculators. Such facts will be demonstrative of the true cause of all our commercial and financial difficulties.

The Editor deeply regrets the unavoidable delay of many valuable Communications, and assures all his Correspondents that so far as is consistent with the necessary variety of matter, and with the preference due to important temporary subjects, their papers shall have place in the order in which they have been received. Some valuable disquisitions on abstract, and metaphysical subjects, which have been a considerable time in hand, will be inserted as soon as possible; but their authors will, it is hoped, liberally defer to communications of a useful and practical tendency, to which the interests and character of this Miscellany have always occasioned a prefer ence to be given.

Cheyne Walk, Chelsea.
March 21, 1811.

ERRATA.

In our last Number, page 123, "the Rev. and eccentric William Thone, late minister of Gowan ;" instead of, the Rev. and eccentric William Thom, late minister of Govan. In this Number, page 204, column 2, line 32 from the bottom, for embedied, read eng grafted.

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