352 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1881, 



quite an average, but 2 lbs. lighter per bushel. Oats a very hea\'y crop, both 

 as regards quantity and weight ; straw very rank, and bulked quite one- 

 third more than last year, and. over an average. Harvest very late ; began 

 21st September, three weeks later than last season, and a fortnight later 

 than the average. The gales during the first week of October did great 

 damage to uncut com, of which there was a good deal. Rye-grass an aver- 

 age crop. Clover plentiful ; quality did not turn out very good, owing to 

 the great difficulty in curing during the continual rains. Meadow hay quite 

 over an average, and much more than last year, but being more difficult to 

 cure is not sound. Potato crop half of last year, which was an average crop ; 

 little or no disease heard of. Turnips about 12 tons, not much over half of 

 last year ; quality good ; braird well ; no second sowing ; very long in get- 

 ting single blade owing to cold weather in June and July. Weeds more than 

 usual, owing to exceptionally wet weather, principally runches and wild 

 mustard. The spring being exceptionally late and the summer very cold, 

 pastures did not make the usual progress ; quality not considered nourishing, 

 and grass rather scarce. Stock did not thrive very well owing to the cold 

 wet season, but were quite free from disease. Clip of wool, quality not 

 good, and quantity about one-fourth under last year, which was an average. 



METEOROLOGY OF 1881. 



The weather of 1879 and 1881 will long mark these two years 

 as aaiong the most disastrous to the farming interests of Scotland 

 in recent times. From November 1878 to October 1879, the mean 

 temperature of the months was uniformly low without a break, 

 and generally to such an extent that the mean of these twelve 

 months was 3°'l under the average of that of previous years. 

 Again, from October 1880 to October 1881, the temperature of 

 each month, with the single exception of May, was under the 

 mean, the average of these thirteen months being 3°'0 less than the 

 mean of previous years. The only twelve consecutive months 

 since 1764, ^vhich show a greater mean degree of cold than these 

 two years, are the following : — 



February 1782 to January 1783, when deficiency was 4°'5 

 February 1799 to January 1800, „ „ 3°-3 



November 1815 to October 1816, „ „ 3°"3 



If we except 1860, no other consecutive twelve months can be 

 selected, the weather of which showed anything that can well be 

 regarded as an approach to the above. Thus the last three years 

 contributes two out of the six conspicuously cold years which 

 have occurred during the past 118 years. 



January 1881. — The opening month of this year had a tem- 

 perature about 10° "0 below the average of January, and was, 

 besides, absolutely the coldest month experienced since 1764. 

 The next coldest month was January 1814, the temperature of 

 which was 9°"0 under the mean. The only other winter months 

 marked by a deficiency of temperature amounting to at least 

 7°-0 were, in 1780, January 7°'3 ; in 1785, February and March, 

 T-0; in 1838, February, 7°-8 ; in 1855, February, 8°-0; in 1874, 



