AND METEOKOLOGY OF THE YEAR KELATIYE THERETO. 309 



of tuniip on some farms ; twice sowinij was resorted to in some cases with 

 little result. Pasture detieient, and cattle never thrived on it all season. 

 Potatoes were u lair crop ; not much disease. As reyards insects and weed><, 

 season 1878 was much worse. 



Renfrewshire (Middle and Vjiper Wards). — Whejit averaged ahout 

 22 bushels, of very inferior quality ; 12 bushels less than average. Straw 

 would he average quantity, about 34 cwt. ; quality under average. Barley 

 averaged ;3() bushels, or 10 bushels under average. Straw about average, 

 26 cwt. ; (quality under average. Oats about 34 bushels, or 6 bushels less 

 than average. Straw about 26 cwt. ; (quantity and ([uality average. Harvest 

 about a month late. About 30 cwt. of hay per acre (rj^e grass and clover 

 juixeil) ; average, but about If) per cent, less weight; quality inferior, 

 ^leadow hay was average (juautity, but inferior quality. Average weight 

 of turnips 6 or 7 tons per acre, — about half a crop. There was very little 

 second sowing. Pastures were average growth, but very inferior in quality. 

 Potatoes about 3 tons, or about half a crop ; rather more disease than 

 usual, especially among the earlier varieties. Disease conmienced about 

 third week of August. Owing to the very heavy rainfall and want of 

 sunshine, last summer proved one of the most discouraging seasons for 

 agriculturists ; and, had it not l)een for the few weeks of good weather in 

 autumn, during which time harvest operations were speedily caiTied forward, 

 it would luive been still more disastrous. A ^■ery few early lots of wheat 

 never ripened, consequently there were few good samples. Owing to the 

 gloomy summer and very late harvest, the great bulk of the cro]) had to be 

 cut comparatively green, and this accounts for the low yield of wheat, and 

 bad quality of both gi'ain and straw. Very little barley is grown. Oat.s, 

 not requiring so much sunshine, ripened better than wheat, but when 

 thrashed they also proved deficient lioth in yield and (juality. They were, 

 however, the most successful crop of the season. The hay crop had a good 

 appearance before harvest, but, being soft grown, it shrunk more than iisual 

 ufter being cut, and besides, it got considerably damaged by rain in the 

 making. The consequence was that it turned out inferior (quality, and 

 ■weighed li.^lit to its bidk. !Meadow hay was even worse ; a great part of it 

 was unlit for fodder, as many of the meadows were repeatedly flooded, both 

 before and after cutting. Owing to the cold spring, pastures were about 

 three weeks late, and, although afterwards they looked as well as usual, 

 they had not the feeding (qualities. Only a few fields of potatoes approached 

 an average crop, and these were the light dry soils ; on the heavy clay soils 

 they were almost a complete failure. The same remarks apply to tlie 

 turnip crop, but it was even more a decided failure. As a rule the best and 

 <lriest p(jrtions of the brake are selected for potatoes, and lience turnips, 

 being grown on the heavier lands, fared even wor.se, as many of them were 

 completely soured by the water standing almost constantly in the drills. 



Renfrewshire (Lower Ward). — The barley sown was of good quality, 

 both as regards grain and straw, and quite up to the average. The yiehl of 

 oats may be calculated at not much less than an average, but the quality 

 Avas much inferior. The seasons of 1877 and 1M71) were much alike, and 

 while 1878 was more favourable in respect of the harvest, the dry weather 

 in the spring prevented the crop from producing the yield it would have 

 done. The yield of 1879 was fully 15 per cent, belnw average, and quality 

 inferior. Straw was not nmch, if anything, deficient in bulk, but the quality 

 was inferior. Harvest from three to four weeks after the usual time. The 

 quantity of rye grass hay may be stated at about 20 per cent, less than the 

 average, and the quality inferior. Meadow hay less productive and bad 

 ([uality. The weight of turnips may be -stated at about half the average ; 

 quality fair, but bulbs very small. Braird good, and second sowing the 

 exception. Pastures deficient, and growth below average, and unusually 



