316 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1879, 



•deficient in quantity and cj^iality. Average yield abont 23 Imsliels per 

 ■acve; weight, 37 lbs. as compared with 44 lbs. per busheL Straw good and 

 plentiful. Harvest commenced about end of September, a fortnight later 

 than iLsual. Quantity of hay crop about 200 stones ; qutdity fair. Clover 

 -and rye grass fair. Turnip crop about 10 tons ; quality much like last 

 season ; brairded badly, and requiring to be sown over and over again in 

 some instances.' The pastures were of an average growth and quality. 

 Potatoes very deficient, not above 2 tons ; disease commenced in August ; 

 runch or wild mustard was the most abundant weed. There was a gale of 

 wind on the 23d September 1879 which shook the standing crops so 

 violently, that they received no sustenance afterwards from the soil, which 

 accounts for the light weight and inferior quality of the grain. 



Shetland, (Unst). — Bere gi'own pretty extensively ; yielded about three- 

 fourths of an average. Straw perliaps under that ; quality good, but grain 

 light. Oats was about an average as regards ({uantity of grain, but the 

 weight may be stated at 2 to 3 lbs. per bushel light ; quality generally 

 injured by wet harvest ; straw short, and consequently^ about one-fifth 

 light. Harvest began about ten days later than an average of the last nine 

 years, excepting 1877, which was ten days later than 1879. Rye grass and 

 ■clover were an average crop when cut, but they were more or less damaged 

 by rains Ijefore being cured. Meadow hay crop was about an average, but dam- 

 aged in curing. The weight of the turnip crop not much over half ; quality 

 very good; brairded well; few cases of second sowing; plants were sadly hurt, 

 immediately before and after getting the rough blade, by cold east winds ; 

 this retarded singling, and generally the crop never recovered. The spring 

 was late and cold, which kept the pastures long Ijare, but after June there 

 "was an abundance, although the quality was not considered good. The 

 yield of the potato crop was about one-fourth less in. bulk ; there were 

 plenty in numljer, but very small ; very little disease heard of ; no insects ; 

 weeds not so abundant as often seen ; turnip crop easily kept clean. The 

 winter of 1878-79 was characterised by heavy rains and severe frosts, which 

 began on 4th December 1878 and continued with little intermission till 

 middle of March 1879, a most unusual thing for Shetland. The spring was 

 •cold and dry with parching east winds. The summer was cold and 

 dry till end of July, when hot weather set in, with winds still pre- 

 Aailing from north and east, and continued all through hay and corn harvest. 

 Cattle generally made little progress on the grass, owing no doubt ' to 

 the excessively low temperature which prevailed all through the season. 

 Contrary to all past experience the heaviest rains were from the north-east 

 and east, and consequently very cold. 



Shetland (Fetlar). — Chester bere, which is used instead of barley, was 

 fully an average crop, both as regards quantity and quality. There was a 

 full average crop of straw as well as grain. There was a good crop of oat 

 straw, but the grain was light and deficient. The han^est was fully a fort- 

 inght later. It was not, however, very late. Here we began to cut bere 

 xibout the end of August or beginning of September. It was perhaps about 

 a fortnight after that when we began to cut oats. Rye grass and clover were 

 very much above average. It was about the heaviest crop of rye grass and 

 ■clover ever seen, but, on account of the rainy weather, it was very difficult to 

 cure ; still it was cured without receiving much injury. The meadow hay 

 crop was above an average as regards productiveness, but from the quantity 

 of rain that fell after it was cut it was very difficult to cure. Both the 

 weight and quality of the turnip crop were fully an average ; the crop 

 brairded very well, and no second sowing recj^uired. The pastures during 

 the season were fully an average. Potato crop fully an average ; in some 

 fields there were a few blanks from the seeds not springing, but there was 

 1X0 disease, and the crop was good both as regards quantity and quality. 



