312 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1879, 



is exceedingly good quality, having been cut before the sap was out. Tlie 

 general average of oats would be about 4^ quarters, and weight 40 lbs. The 

 harvest began about the second week of October, which was about iive weeks 

 later than in average years, and then the crops were not nearly matured . 

 The hay crop was generally hghter than usual ; the average quantity per acre 

 Avould be about 160 stones ; the quality fair, being thin of clover. Eye 

 grass seed poor, both in quantity and quality, weighing from 16 to 20 lbs. 

 per bushel. No meadow hay grown. The turnip crop has been almost a, 

 failure, although on a few fields of gravelly land there is a fair crop ; the 

 weight woi;ld not exceed 6 tons, and in average years the weight would 

 be from 20 to 25 tons. In some parts a second sowing was required, owing 

 to the ravages of the fly. The pastures were very poor all through the 

 season, and in some parts the hay crop was cut green and carted into the 

 fields to keep the cattle alive. It was the worst grass season for many years. 

 The potato crop was generally very deficient in quantity, but the tubers 

 were of better quality than in general years. The quantity would be from 

 2 to 3 tons ; in general years the quantity would be from 5 to 7 tons. 

 Weeds were generally very abundant, and owing to the imprecedentedly wet 

 season were difficult to eradicate. 



Aberdeenshire (Parish of Forgue). — Barley very deficient in quantity 

 and quality. The deficiency estimated at 2 quarters per acre, and the de- 

 ficiency in weight fully 6 lbs. per bushel ; former average 56 lbs., this year 

 under 50 lbs. ; straw of average quantity and quality. Oats— grain de- 

 ficient in quantity by H quarters, and in weight 2 lbs. per bushel on the 

 best and earliest farms ; whilst on late high lying or clayey land the de- 

 ficiency in quantity was about 2 quarters, and the quality of grain very bad, 

 in some cases unfit for seed, and not yielding 1 boll of 140 lbs. of meal to the 

 quarter of oats ; large bulk of straw, but not well-ripened ; harvest a month 

 later than usual. The quality of the hay crop was good when not cut very 

 early, and a fair mi.xture of rye gTass and clover ; when cut very early the 

 crop much damaged by rain ; quantity about 5 cwt. deficient per acre. 

 Turnip crop very deficient in good land, and on stift' clayey soils almost a 

 perfect failure ; the deficiency on best soils one-half, and on poor soils 

 three-fourth ; late sown Swedes had to be re-sown, but early sowing and 

 yellow turnips made a fairly close braird. Pastures of sown grasses very 

 deficient all the season in consequence of the cold wet weather ; kept at 

 least one-third fewer cattle and sheep than iisual. Potato crop good quality, 

 but small size ; yield one-third less. No unusual destruction of crops by 

 either insects or weeds. 



Aberdeen and Banffshires. — Barley a very deficient crop, yielding from 

 1| quarter to 3 quarters, the average not exceeding 2| quarters ; quality of 

 grain dark coloured and very light ; straw in many instances good, but very 

 green ; the average returns were much overtliis, at least If quarters ; weight, 

 particularly of crop 1878, 4 to 5 lbs. per bushel over that of crop 1879. 

 Oats a fair yielding crop, although in many instances not equal to former 

 years, this arising from the lateness of the harvest, crop not being fully 

 ripened ; the produce being from 3 to 4 quarters, and on some superior 

 lands as high as 4^ to 5 quarters were thrashed out ; the weights very 

 various, from 30 lbs. to 43 lbs per bushel ; the oat harvest did not com- 

 mence till the first week of October, barley harvest full}" a week earlier ; 

 harvest of 1878 more than a month earlier than 1879, whilst that of ] 877 was 

 not more than fourteen days earlier than that of 1879. Hay crop (rye grass 

 and clover) would average from 1 ton to li tons, being under the average of 

 bygone years ; quality very fair, but not quite equal to former years. 

 Turnips, on dry loamy fields in good order, yielded 10 to 14 tons ; where 

 the land was soft, low lying, and badly drained, not more than 4 to 6 tons ; 

 the crop brairded badly ; owing to excessive rains, a second, and, in some 



