346 TlIK CEREAL AXD OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAXD FOR 18S1, 



many trials aud the season so far advanced ; yellows were sown instead. 

 The turnip fly was very prevalent during the months of May and June, 

 and seemed to be the cause partly of destroying the young turnip braird ; 

 the reporter, however, thinks that the frost at night and the bright sunshine 

 by day during these months had much to do in shrivelling up and killing 

 the young plants, and this would account for the success near the sea where 

 the frost was less severe. Along the coast side the crop would average from 



16 t ) 24 tons, and in the upper district 10 to 12 tons. No damage done by 

 weeds. This season has been the worst for pasture grass that has occurred 

 for a long time, in fact, grass never was abundant during the whole season. 

 Cattle and sheep did not do well, the season being cold, and when killed off 

 grass turned out vers^ bad in internal fat and tallow ; were free from disease. 

 Clip of wool was under an average. 



Aberdeenshire (Garioch District). — Scarcely any wheat grown. The 

 yield of barley would be about 40 bushels, or same as last year ; but the 

 weight per bushel would be 2 lbs. less, owing to absence of sunshine ; the 

 quantity of seed sown per acre is 4^ bushels. A portion of the oat crop was 

 not so well harvested as last year, in consequence of heavy rainfall ; but the 

 bulk would be about the same, and return similar, viz., 36 bushels ; seed 

 required, 6 bushels per acre. Harvest was commenced in the lower part of 

 the Garioch about the 14th September, and the upper part about the 28th, 

 which is fully three weeks later than the average time. The hay crop was 

 generally very light, but quality good and well mixed ; the weight is under 

 last year by about 3 cwts. ; the weight this year may be put down at 1 ton 

 5 cwts. jSTo meadow hay. The potato crop was somewhat less than last 

 year, but quality exceedingly good, and free of disease ; the average yield 

 would be from 4-| to 5 tons. The turnip crop is considerably under last year. 

 It is stated in the report of the Garioch Turnip Growing Association that 

 the weight of Swedish last year was 22 tons 11 cwts., and this year 10 tons 



5 cwts. ; green top yellow, 22 tons 8 cwts. 2 lbs. last year, against 15 tone 



17 cwts. — showing a deficiency on the former variety of 12 tons 6 cwts., 

 and on the latter of 7 tons 1 cwt. ; the quality is excellent, and free of disease ; 

 many fields had to be resown three times. An insect attacked the turnip seed 

 crop in the month of May, and almost totally destroyed it, a circumstance 

 I never remember having occurred in any previous year. The land is 

 generally kept very clean, and no damage has been done under that head. 

 Owing to the severe winter, the land was so thoroughly cooled that growth 

 was late in starting ; and from the havoc by frost to the turnip crop, cattle 

 had to be early put to grass, and there was not a full bite the whole season. 

 Stock throve moderately well ; both cattle and sheep have been excep- 

 tionally free from disease. The quantity and quality of the clip of wool 

 would be equal to the average of former years. 



Aberdeenshire (Strathbogie District). — Scarcely any wheat grown. Bar- 

 ley crop generally up to the average, in regard to both straw and grain ; 

 the average yield was about 40 bushels per acre, and the weight from 52 

 to 55 lbs. per bushel ; the quantity of seed generally so"\vn is about 4 

 bushels. Oat crop was deficient in bulk of straw, but fully up to the average 

 as regards yield of grain ; on well-farmed, good land, the yield was in many 

 cases as high as 56 bushels, but the general average is from 40 to 44 bushels, 

 and the weight fi'om 40 to 44 lbs ; the quantity of seed sown is from 4 to 



6 bushels, and in the later localities from 6 to 8. Harvest began about the 

 usual time— about the middle of September, and about a fortnight later than 

 last year ; but, as the weather got very wet after the first week, harvest 

 operations were suspended for about ten days ; complaints were general in 

 the district of heating in the stackyards, five or six weeks after the crop was 

 secured. The hay crop was generally very light, unless where top dressed, 



