AND METEOROLOGY OF THE YEAR RELATIVE THERETO. 343 



quarter short of last year ; quality inferior to last year from the wet harvest ; 

 about 4 bushels sown. Straw in these crops about an average, but generally 

 got in in bad form. Harvest commenced generally al)0ut 1st September, or 

 eighteen days later than last year ; this is later than the usual time. Hay 

 a fair crop ; this is not much of a hay district. Xo meadow hay. Kegent 

 potatoes a full crop — about 6 or 7 tons, about one-half diseased ; Victorias 

 one-third ; champions and magnum bonums a large crop, and no disease ; 

 disease commenced about middle of September. Potatoes almost unsale- 

 able. The turnip crop is very varied as to bidk ; some fields carry from 20 to 

 25 tons, whilst others carry only from 10 to 15 tons. They have improved 

 very much since autumn Avhen left in field. The turnips were very much 

 destroyed by fly, and very few fields but had to be resown, sometimes 

 twice. The insects were of the species we always suffer from, only this 

 season the frosty weather at time of sowing retarded the growth of the 

 plants, and gave the fly greater advantage. Kot much injury from weeds. 

 Pastures an average gro\vth. Stock did not feed, that is, did not take on 

 flesh ver}^ well, owing to the cold summer, but were free from disease. 

 Clip of wool an average. 



Perthshire (Western District). — There is no wheat growm in this dis- 

 trict, and very little barley. There is not much oats sown here, it being a 

 pastoral district ; about a boll generally sown. Oats short in quantity ; 

 straw inferior. Harvest wet and very late. Crops a good deal under 

 average in yield. Harvest about three weeks later here than usual. Com 

 did not ripen at all in many places hereabouts. Hay crop very short in 

 quality. Meadow hay crop short. Potato crop about an average as to 

 quantity, but about a third lost through disease. Turnip crop pretty good 

 herealjouts as to quality and quantity. No injury by insects, and none by 

 weeds. Owing to the continued wet and dulness there was no stamina in 

 grass, therefore an ordinary stock kept pastures very bare. Stock did not 

 thrive very well, owing to want of substance in grass through want of solar 

 heat, but were free from disease. Wool inferior in quality ; weight a good 

 deal under average, owing to the stormy winter. 



Perthshire (Perth District). — Wheat, about 3 bushels of seed sown per 

 acre. On lAack land, where the plants stood the severe winter, wheats of 

 the harder varieties, such as " square head," are turning out a good crop of 

 about 40 to 45 bushels, but the ([uality is not nearly as good as last year, 

 and 3 lbs. per bushel lighter. The straw is very brittle, owing to so much 

 mr)isture. On clay soils, and all spring-sown wheats the crop is a miserable 

 failure ; from IG to 20 bushels per acre of light grain, 50 to 5S lbs. per 

 bushel. A great proportion of last year's winter-sown wheat had to be 

 ploughed up, as the plants were entirely killed by the very severe frosts. 

 Barley, about 3 bushels of seed sown ])er acre. Barley, where early sown 

 and on good land, was a good crop of about 40 to 45 bushels, weighing 

 54 to 56 lbs. per bushel. The straw was as good as last year, but the grain 

 wanted the golden colour. Where the crop was later it is a poor affair, 

 about 30 bushels, and from 50 to 52 lbs. per bushel is still soft, and not 

 improving in the stack as ex])ected. On an average both grain and straw 

 is 30 jMir cent, more than last year in both «[uantity and ([uality ; too much 

 rain and want of sunshine is the whole rea.son ; about 4 bushels souti. 

 Oats are the Injst crop of the seiison ; excellent quality of grain and straw, 

 45 to 50 bushels ])er acre ; 40 to 4:i lbs. pur bushel as good as last year. 

 Harvest I'min a I'ortuiLilit to thn-c weeks later than usual. Hay about H 

 tons ; quality nearly iw good .as lust year. Hardly any nu-adow hay grown. 

 Potiitous, from 5 to 7 tons ; about one-third diseased, except in champions, 

 wh(!re there was little or none; (juality as good as last year ; disease began 

 in the middle of Septenber. Turnip crop very variable, from 10 to lf> 



