308 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1879, 



and about 50 .stones below the average. ^leadow hay crop less, and in 

 many cases destroyed by floods. Turnip crop about 12 tons ; 10 tons less 

 than average ; brairded well ; quality better. Wliere more than one sowing 

 was required, which was very rare, the cause was fly or wire worm. Potato 

 crop about 200 bushels per acre ; about 30 bushels below average. Disease 

 commenced about 1st September. Chickweed and red shank in great 

 abundance. 



Ayrshire. — Produce of wheat very irregular ; winter wheat on early 

 land may be three-fourths of ordinary crop, Ijut spring sowings have given 

 generally a very poor return ; average yield perhaps not far from 18 bushels ; 

 quality very inferior ; about one-fourth fit only for cattle food. Straw more 

 than average biilk. Barley fair bulk of straw, but poor yield of grain ; 

 average about 26 bushels ; quality light. Oats aliout an average in lower 

 parts of the county ; deficient in uplands. Yield on high land miich better 

 than 1877, but inferior to fine upland crop of 1878. Bulk of straw generally 

 over average ; corn and straw together up to average in value. Oats form 

 seven-eighths of entire grain crop. Harvest fully three weeks later than 

 usual. Hay rather above average, but quality inferior to 1878 owing to 

 bad weather. Meadow hay as good as 1877, biit much inferior to 1878. 

 Turnips inferior to 1877, and very greatly inferior to 1878, — the worst 

 since draining has become general. Not much complaint as to brairding. 

 Pastures inferior, — too much rain. Early potatoes two-thirds to three- 

 fourths of ordinary crops ; late crop very poor on the heavier class of land,, 

 and mvich diseased. 



Bute. — Barley about 4 quarters ; deficient on poor laud ; general deficiency 

 in weight 4 lbs. per bushel. Oats about 3 quarters ; deficient in weight 

 about 4 lbs. per bushel ; very bad crop on cold land. Harvest fully a 

 month later than usual. Hay crop about 1 to 2 tons ; inferior in quality. 

 Turnips in many districts a complete failure ; 5 to 10 tons considered a 

 good crop ; average 20 tons. Crop brairded well, but young plants were 

 kdled by cold and rain ; a few second sowings rendered necessary by green 

 fly. Potatoes 3 to 4 tons, — about half the usual crop. No more disease 

 than usual. Weeds about twice as abvmdant on account of the cold 

 and wet. 



Arran. — Little wheat grown. Very little barley grown ; quality inferior. 

 Oats— quantity about 26 bushels ; quality from 2 to 3 lbs. per bushel ; under 

 average. Straw — quantity above average, but quality not so good. Harvest 

 from three to four weeks later. Hay about 1^ tons per acre ; quantity 

 rather above average, but quality under average. Eye grass seed and clover 

 under average both as to quantity and quality. Meadow hay, quantity 

 fully an average ; quality not so good as average. Turnips about 6i tons ; 

 quantity below average, and quality inferior. Braird very bad, and in 

 some places had to be re-sown, owing principally to the wet weather ; the 

 orop failed almost entirely in some places. Pastures an average as to 

 growth ; quality under average. Potatoes much under average in quantity ; 

 in some localities a total failure ; cpuility inferior ; quantity saved vary 

 from 1 to 5 tons per acre ; in some places about three-fourths, in others 

 about one-third diseased. Disease appeared about the beginning of August. 

 Insects not more than usual. Weeds abundant (owing principally to wet 

 .season), in green crop ; weeds in white crop being no worse than usual, 

 principally annual weeds — chickweed, crowsfoot, &c. 



Lanarkshire. — Some of the wheat never ripened, and is deficient in 

 weight. Oats are a good sample to look at, but are not thrashing well ; 

 average weight 39 lbs. per bushel. Straw is only fit for bedding. HarAest 

 fully si.x weeks late. Hay crop is about 200 stones per acre ; the crop not 

 so good in quality as the average, — scarcity of clover. An excellent crop 



