08 Agriculture.{Apr

Before the Revolution, France employed, in its colonial trade, 132,009 tons of ſhipping. Between the years 1763 and 1778, the returns in pro- duce from the French colonies, conſiſting of ſugar, coffee, indigo, cacao, and cotton, amounted to the annual value of about 6,400,000. ſterling. Of theſe one-half was conſumed in France, the other half exported to other parts of Europe, In 1788, the tonnage employed in the French colonial trade had been augmented ro 696 veſſels, and 204,058 tons burthén. The imports role, in that year, to the value of about 7,009,000. ſterling.

The negroes introduced by the French and others into St. Domingè, in

1784, Were 25,925

1786= /21,762 1786== 14213732 1787.--- 39,839 1783--/ 29,506 1789.==,(275212

In 5 years 162,076 negroes,

———AK LLL TTL E A 1 rr

Agriculture.

ze by a ráonth-of April fias not been, throughout its, courſe, ſo favourable as could be wiſhed to the vegetation of the ſpringing articles ofi crop. Wheat, oats, andeven.barley avre, now, however, in a ltâte of fovrwardneſs in which they cannot be confiderably injured by any thing except blights and withering drought, We have experienced in April, ſome blátts of cold eaſt winds, and chilling rains, with ſome unexpedted falls of’ lleet: and the promiſe of the fruit-trees has been, in diferent places, ſomewhat diminiſhed. But, the hopes of the year have not been farther damaged, Garden-plants in general, as our markets evince, are ſufficiently forward. This month xùight have been more favourable to the lambs, whoſe tenderneſs muſt liave been, in many places, but ill-fitted to endure its ſeverer blaſts. The green; or young geele; unleſs where carefully fed with: leaves of lettuce, raddiſh=- tops,&c. have‘not fared well, in all parts of the country during Apvil, Even in the wilder and more northern parts, the potatoes have been, every where planted. Thoſe of the early varieties already ſpring luxuriantly«

The meadows and“ graſs fields, in 1noſt« of thoſe parts of the country which we have had opportunity to vif, are already cleared of ſtones and other nuiſances, have the fences renewed, and offer a fine promiſe of graſs Calves and young cattle in general, are thriving- Where fallowing without green crops 1s ill uſed,—and there are, no doubt hituations, in which it may be adviſeable,—April is the month in which it is begun. Tt goes on, alſo, in May. Inthe more northern parts, the fences are not yet, every where repaired: and there is much labour of hedging, ditching, and building dry ſfon<--walls for incloſures, now in progreſs.‘Thoſe grounds which were too wet in March, have generally continued ſo in April, The leading of lime, marle, ſhélls, leech, and the filth from towns for manure pro<éecds now. This interval between the labours of ſowing and harrowings and thoſe of weeding and hoeing, cannot be too diligently employed by the farmer: and we remark’ with pleaſure, the attention with which, in the diſtri&ts round London, thoſe taſks for which it affords leiſure are vigilantly forwarded.“ As mölit of the cáttle which were in winter kept to meet the markéts' in ſpring‘aie now ſold off, and the ſtock renewed! by the: purchaſe of young cattle; many beaſts of all ſorts have come, laſt month, into the —ahñd the prices of meat, have, of late, fallen. In conſequence

markets,

of the renewed working of‘the diſtilleries, the number of pigs in the coun- try is likely to be, this year, much more conſiderable than it was laſt year>