OF SCOTLAND.

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°f rural economy. When left to itself, labour will alwaysfind its proper level.

Some may contend, that the advance upon the price ofwheat, during the last thirty years, has been greater thaneven on the price of oats. But although the consumption ofwheaten bread is yearly increasing among the labourers inScotland , yet as oatmeal is still considered, by all descriptionsof labourers, as the principal support of a family, the price ofthe quartern loaf is scarcely so much as spoken of, so long asoatmeal can be procured on fair and reasonable terms.

It is proper, however, to observe, that the price of po-tatoes has considerable influence on the rate of labour,though to what extent, it is hardly possible to appreciate, as *the consumption varies so much in different years, accordingto the relative price of oatmeal and potatoes. In point ofnourishment, it is believed that one peck of oatmeal, weigh-ing 8-j lb. avoirdupois, will go as far in supporting a familyas two pecks, or 56 lb. of potatoes.

SECT. VI.

OF THE PRICE OF FUEL AS AFFECTING RURAL LABOUR.

ext to the price of provisions, there is no circumstancethat has a greater tendency to affect rural labour, in a coldand moist climate, than the nature of the fuel made use of, andi,ts price. These are points, therefore, of the utmost impor-tance to discuss in a Treatise on Rural Economy.

In regard to the nature of the fuel used in Scotland , thoughwood is partially employed in some districts, yet coal andpeat are the principal articles employed throughout the wholekingdom; and, fortunately for the people, wherever the for-