360 



THE CEEEAL AND OTHEK CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOE 1881, 



Table showing the Excess or Defect of Days fro^i the Average of 

 THE Direction and Force of the Different Winds in Scotland 

 DURING 1881. 



Thus January, which was the coldest month in h^cotland of 

 which there exists any authentic record, was remarkable for the 

 lightness of wind and predominance of northerly and easterly 

 winds ; and November, which was warmer than any previous 

 J^ovember as far back as 1764, was characterised by an unpre- 

 cedented predominance of strong south-westerly winds. 



The cutting of the harvest commenced from two to four weeks 

 later than the average, being about a week earlier in the east 

 than in the west. The earliest district, as compared with past 

 years, was Tweeddale, a circumstance due to the combined higher 

 temperature and smaller rainfall there up to the end of August. 

 The latest district was the south-west of Scotland, where in some 

 places harvest was five weeks later in commencing than usual. 



Everywhere wheat was under the average, in some places as 

 much as 50 per cent., the crops in some places which were not 

 under a covering of snow being destroyed, or all but destroyed, 

 by the gTeat frosts and stormy winds of January, February, and 

 March. 



Barley also was under the average generally, but in a few 

 districts, as along the south coast of the Moray Firth, the 

 crop was an average one. 



Oats were better crops, being in the majority of the districts, 

 at any rate, the average ; this was particularly the case in 

 Shetland, Orkney, and to the south of Aberdeen and IMull. The 

 quality and weight did not stand generally so high, though over 

 considerable breadths at least the average weight was secured, 



