Total loss, on _grain alone_, by free trade, £147 15 0 ========= I consider the above a fair statement of the expenditure and income on a farm in the lower district of Aberdeenshire, under former and under present circumstances. It will be observed that no wheat is grown; but the soil is well adapted for the rearing and feeding of cattle, and from this source the Aberdeenshire farmer expects to derive a large proportion of his returns. In the comparison, reference is had solely to the fall in the price of the kinds of grain cultivated. Whatever decline in the price of fat cattle may arise from free trade, will fall heavily on the farmers of this district; and the reduction of income thus occasioned will, of course, add to the amount of loss shown above. JAMES HAY, LITTLE YTHSIE, _13th December 1849._ Having lately had an opportunity of examining a number of _actual_ accounts of income and expenditure on various farms, I can confirm the substantial accuracy and fairness of the above statements, Nos. I. and II. Mr Hay's statement above, referring to the system of agriculture with which, in this part of the country, we are most conversant, may, in my humble opinion, be regarded as fair and just, and as near the average that a comparison of a number of individual cases would indicate, as it can be made. I am sensible that, in many cases of calculations--more especially in those in which certain assumptions have to be made--it is quite possible, even with a show of fairness, to bring out by means of figures almost any result that may be desired; but it is to be observed that, in the above statements, the _same_ assumptions (if they can be regarded as such) are made on both sides of the comparison, with the exception of the prices at which agricultural produce is taken; and it is submitted with confidence that these are neither made higher in the one case, nor lower in the other, than experience warrants. W. HAY, TILLYDESK, _14th December 1849_. No. IV. ESTIMATED VALUE, of the produce upon a farm in Roxburghshire of 500 acres, managed according to the five-shift rotation, thus:-- 200 acres of corn crop. 200 " of grass. 100 " of turnips. ____ 500 It is here assumed that there are no local advantages, the whole green crops being consumed upon the farm by sheep and cattle. I. PRODUCE OF CORN CROPS. Bush. Bush. Bush. Oats, 100 acres, at 48, = 4800, off 2400, leaves for sale, 2400 Wheat, 60 " at 38, = 1980, off 180, " 1800 Barley, 40 " at 42, = 1680, off 340, " 1340 _Average Value during the ten years preceding Crop 1848._ 2400 bushels of oats, at 3s., £360 1800 " of wheat, at 7s., 630 1340 " of barley, at 4s., 268 ________ 1258 0 0