306 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1879, 



1878 was good and well got in. In 1879 it was poor and much damaged 

 •with the wet weather. The rye grass and clover are nsually grown together, 

 und were equally affected by season 1879. Average of turnip crop before 

 1878, 16 tons ; in 1878, 17 tons ; and in 1879, 7 tons. Crop brairded well 

 in 1879, but did not advance in growth, owing to the coldness of the weather 

 and the heavy rains in summer. Only one sowing. The pastures produced 

 an average quantity of grass in 1879, but it did not feed stock well owing 

 to its deficient quality. The average yield of the potato crop was, before 

 1878, 5 tons ; in 1878, 5 tons ; and in 1879, 3 tons. With regard to disease 

 in 1879, Regents suffered very much, but Champions were not affected 

 at all. Disease was first noticed amongst Regents about the end of July. 

 No increase of insects. 



HoxBURGHSHiRE. — Wheat only half a crop ; both grain and straw of 

 inferior quality. Barley about two-thirds of an average ; grain about 3 lbs. 

 per bushel lighter ; quality of straw as good as usual. Oats about one-third 

 deficient in quantity ; grain and straw as good as usual. Harvest about a 

 fortnight later. Average quantity of hay crop, but quality not so good. 

 Turnip crop one-third in quantity ; quality good. Seed brairded well 

 enough, but did not progress as it should have done from excess of moisture. 

 Pasture of good enough quantity, but did not nourish stock so well as 

 usual. Potato crop one-third deficient in quantity ; little disease. Chick- 

 weed very prevalent. The deficiency in all the crops was caused by the 

 ifixtraordinary c^uantity of rain and little sunshine. 



Selkirkshire. — Oats — The average quantity ranges from 3^ to 5 

 .quarters ; the crop of 1879 was one-third deficient ; quality almost an 

 average, and the yield of straw fully an average, and, seeing it was well 

 secured, of fine quality. The harvest began about the third week of 

 September, fully a month after the usual time, and as October was almost 

 wholly dry, the great bulk of the crop was secured in fine condition. The 

 quantity of rye grass hay M'ould be from 150 to 250 stones (22 lbs. per 

 stone), of average quality in dry soils, but in many cases deficient in 

 clover, and, owing to the very unsettled character of the weather, much 

 ^of the crop was injured in making. The meadow hay crop was a full 

 average, but, like the rye grass, was not in general well secured. The 

 turnip crop was very deficient, and did not reach half an average, — in fact, 

 in heavy soils was not over a fourth of an average, the bulbs being small 

 and inferior. The crop brairded well generally, and, where re-sowing was 

 necessary, the second braird was of slow and unequal growth, and the croj) 

 even more deficient. Pastures were of average growth only on dry soils, 

 l)Ut owing to the heavy rainfall were much deficient in feeding qualities. 

 The yield of the potato crop was exceptionally small — not nearly an average. 

 Disease existed to some extent among the ordinary varieties, but the 

 •Cham})ions were free from disease — of fine quality, though smaller in size, 

 and below an average crop. As to weeds, the ordinary quicken was in so 

 jfreat abundance that it almost wholly choked the turnip and potato crops, 

 and owing to the wet could not be killed. The season was thus by far the 

 worst to the farmer that has been experienced for many years, owing to the 

 great absence of sunshine and excessive rainfall ; and while, doubtless, these 

 influences are much against the arable farmer, on this occasion the pastoral 

 or stock farmer suffered to a still greater degree. This was caused by the 

 Avinter of lb78-79, which, owing to both frost and snow, was almost fatal to 

 many hill stocks ; and as this was followed by a very bleak and cold spring, 

 a large percentage (sometimes from 30 to 40 per cent.), of the ewes were 

 ■enable from weakness to nurse their lambs, and those who did struggle 

 through were so stunted in their growth that they never reached anything 

 like an average size. The prices of sheep stock and wool were also remark- 

 ably low, and this, added to the deficiency in numbers, made the revenue 



