340 THE CEREAL AND OTHEK CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1881, 



rocks and earlier sorts in many farms were almost a complete failure ; 

 disease began about the middle of July. The weight of swedes was 

 16 tons 5 cwts.; yellows, 17 tons 10 cwts., and never were fresher and 

 better turnips ; on several farms they were resown ; braird supposed to be 

 killed by frost ; on some farms there will not be 7 tons. The crop brairded 

 very well, but was longer of being thinned, and after thinning was long 

 before they began to grow much. Mangold, as far as I know, was the only 

 crop damaged by insects. The insects did not leave one with myself, and 

 with some others as bad. The insects looked like a small clock or small 

 insect with wings and black ; the damage was much the same as last year. 

 Crops were not injured by weeds. The pastures were of average growth 

 with last year, but not at all the quality, owing to so much rain. Cows 

 went back in their milk very much when the rain came on. Stock did not 

 thrive so well as last year. Cattle have been free from disease, but sheep 

 have not ; very many sheep have died from fluke, louping-ill, and braxy. 

 The clip of wool was about an average, and the quality good. 



Argyllshire (District of Inveraray). — Xo wheat or barley grown. Oats 

 rather a light crop both in straw and grain compared to last year or ordinary 

 years. Harvest was considerably later than usual, but crop very little 

 damaged considering the time it stood in stook and the boisterous wet 

 weather. The weather was cold. The usual seeding is 6 bushels, would 

 not like to hazard yield. Harvest considerably later at least a fortnight. 

 There being not much cultivation in this district, there was not much land 

 under clover and rye-grass, but both crops and meadow were rather lighter 

 than usual, unless the last cut of meadow. Cannot give weights, but 

 ordinarily well saved. Meadow hay crop less on the whole. Potatoes are 

 a plentiful crop and above average, though not quite up to crop 1880. 

 Some fields and varieties of potatoes were slightly affected with disease shortly 

 before digging time, but the crop is generally sound and plentiful. Turnips 

 are a light crop all over the district, had to be sown two, three, and in some 

 cases four times. It is supposed here that it was frost spoiled the first 

 sowings. Quality sound ; cannot give weights ; perhaps about three-fifths an 

 average crop. No injury by insects. Turnips and potatoes were more 

 weedy than usual, the crops not getting up timeously. Pastures scarcely 

 equal to last year for want of summer heat. Stock throve as well as usual, 

 not having been so much troubled with heat and flies ; were quite free from 

 disease, except that braxy has been heavy about the end of the year. Clip 

 of wool an average. 



*o^ 



Dumbartonshire. — "Wheat, this year 26 bushels ; last year 36 bushels ; 

 quality poor this year, last year fine ; the cause of indifference this year the 

 want of sunshine and continuous rain ; the quantity of seed sown about 3 

 bushels. Barley, this year 28 bushels ; last year 36 bushels ; the same 

 cause for poor quality ; but not much grown in this district ; the quantity 

 of seed sown about 2^ bushels ; quite unexceptional crop ; above estimate 

 was furnished by one of the few who have tried it. Oats, this year 46 

 bushels ; quality fair ; much about the average, but last year specially fine ; 

 the quantity generally sown 4 bushels. Harvest, this year about the 12th 

 September ; last year a month earlier. Hay crop, this year 2j tons ; hay is 

 softer this year than last, owing to the unusual quantity of clover and the 

 heavy rainfall while it was gro-vving ; generally harvested in fair condition. 

 Meadow hay crop, scarcely any grown in this district ; there would be more 

 weight but scarcely so well got as last year. Potato crop, this year 5 tons ; 

 last year 10 tons ; disease commenced about the end of August in the first 

 earlies and regents ; very little disease in champions ; there would be 7 tons 

 of this variety. Turnip crop, this year 12 tons ; last year 24 tons ; the crop 

 did in this district generally with the one sowing, but in many Instances 



