342 THE CEREAL AND OTHEE CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1881. 



the season, owing, it is thought, to frosty nights. Stock did very well upon 

 the whole. Both cattle and sheep perfectly free from disease. Wool — 

 what there was of it — may be taken as about the average. Beans, which 

 are an important crop, were good in 1881, there being a great bulk of 

 straw and fair quality of bean, although the bushels per acre may not have 

 been up to a full average. Average estimated at 24 bushels. Upon the 

 whole the greatest failure has been in the wheat crop. The severe winter 

 and sunless summer were the features of the year, and the low prices, com- 

 bined with a short crop, render the returns very unremunerative to the 

 husbandman. 



FiFESHiRE (Eastern District). — Wheat, 24 bushels ; 1^ tons straw ; 3 

 bushels sown. Barley, 32 bushels ; 18 cwts. straw ; 3 bushels so^\m. Oats, 

 42 bushels ; 22 cwts. straw ; 4 bushels sown. Harvest three weeks after the 

 usual time. Hay crop, I ton ; r3'e-grass, fair quality ; clover very deficient. 

 No meadow hay grown. Potato crop, 25 per cent, less than last year, 5 

 tons, about one-third diseased ; disease commenced in middle of September. 

 Turnip crop 30 per cent, deficient, 10 tons, brairded badly ; had to be 

 resown on account of frost. Xo injury by insects. Pastures more growth 

 and less quality. Stock throve fair, and were free from disease. Quality 

 of wool good, quantity under an average. 



Perthshire (South-West District), — Comparatively little wheat sown ; 

 average produce about 30 bushels. Quantity of straw much the same as 

 previous year, but quality inferior. Produce per acre rather less than above 

 stated on clay land, say 28 bushels, and weight not more than 58 lbs. on 

 average. Barley, quantity of grain much less than previous year, and 

 quantity of straw greater. Weight of grain 3 or 4 lbs. per bushel lighter 

 than usual. Produce 4^ qrs., or 36 bushels. Grain dark in colour, about 

 4 bushels per acre sown. Oats, average quantity, 30 bushels, and straw 

 much the same as previous year. Weight of grain 3 lbs. lighter than pre- 

 vious year. About 6 bushels sown in dry field, and 5 bushels in Carse 

 land. Harvest about a fortnight later than usual in the earlier districts, 

 and much more in the late. In fact, the glens were a month later, and in 

 some localities the farmers have had no harvest weather at all. Hay about 

 25 cwts. on an average, and fair good quality. More clover this year. 

 Meadow hay much less productive, and tlie quality inferior. The potato 

 crop was quite equal in quantity to that of 1880, but disease was more 

 virulent, and the quality was not so good. The disease commenced a few 

 weeks before maturity. The turnip crop was not more or much more than 

 half that of the previous year, but the quality was good. The crop brairded 

 badly, and had to be resown more than once owing to the ravages of the 

 beetle. Turnip crop was much injured by the beetle ; in some localities 

 ruined entirely. The green crops were not easily hoed or kept clean, 

 owing to the wetness of the weather. Pastures were not nearly so good as 

 usual, nor half so nutritious. Stock throve badly. Cattle perhaps never 

 came to either market or stall in the fall in lower condition. Cattle and 

 sheep were free from disease. Clip of wool under the average in quantity 

 and quality. 



Perthshire (Coupar-Angus District). — Very little of the wdieat is 

 thrashed yet, not being in good enough condition ; what has been thrashed 

 is very inferior to what it was last year, and from 1 to 2 qrs, less in quantity. 

 We generally sow in autumn 4 bushels per acre, this season fully 4 bushels, 

 the wheat being so bad. Barley, quantity per acre from 30 to 40 bushels, 

 less by 10 to 20 bushels from last year's crop ; quality of grain very inferior, 

 selling at from 10s. to 15s. at less price per quarter of 8 bushels than last 

 year ; from 3 to 4 bushels sown. Oats, from 40 to 50 bushels, about a 



