AND METEOROLOGY OF THE YEAR RELATIVE THERETO. 391 



tember. The weight of the turnip crop this year may he pub at from 

 17 to 20 tons, and in excess of last year of about 10 tons. On some parts 

 of stiff and mossy land braird was hard to come ; re-sowing had not gene- 

 rally to be resorted to. Xo injury by insects. Owing to the favourable 

 season during hoeing for cleaning the land, weeds did not obtain the same 

 hold as in a wet season. Although the average growth of the pastures was 

 not in excess of last year, it was of much superior quality. Stock made 

 much better progress tliis year than last year, and were entirely free fi^om 

 disease. Clip of wool about an average. 



Aberdeexshire (Formartine). — Wheat is not grown to any extent, only 

 in some of the heavy soils ; last year the quantity on an average 32 bushels, 

 grain weighing 56 lbs. per bushel, with an abundance of straw ; this year 

 about 48 bushels, grain weighing 66 lbs. per bushel and not nearly so much 

 straw. Barley and here or bigg are much cultivated — last year about 28 

 bushels, grain weighing 49 to 51 lbs. per bushel, straw abundant ; this year 

 36 bushels, grain weighing 54 to 56 lbs. per bushel, straw not so abundant 

 as last year ; grain was much discoloured before reaping by misty or 

 foggy weather ; on some early farms the return was not so good as ex- 

 pected, as the bright sunshine hastened the crop too fast to maturity ; 

 quantity sown, 4 bushels barley and 3 bushels here or bigg. Oats is the 

 staple crop ; on early and open bottomed soils there is not more than 

 4 to 6 bushels over last year, but last year's crop would be 28 bushels with 

 a very large proportion of straw, grain weighing 38 to 41 lbs. per bushel ; 

 this year 38 to 40 bushels, grain weighing 42 to 45 lbs. per bushel, the 

 straw not nearly so abundant as last year, but where harvested before the 

 rains is of excellent quality. There seems, however, to be some doubt 

 whether the straw of this year's crop possesses more nutriment or feeding 

 qualities than last year's crop ; quantity sown, 6 bushels. Harvest com- 

 menced last year about 28th September and this year about 20th August. 

 The hay crop not so heavy as last year but the quality superior — last year 

 about 2 tons this year If tons. No meadow hay. This year's potato 

 crop is the best and most abundant since 1846 ; last year the aver- 

 age would be about 6 or 8 tons, this year about 9 to 12 tons — 

 gross big and little. The older sorts, such as the Regents, Victorias, 

 and Glenbarries, were about one-third diseased when lifted, and are 

 •till going wrong in the pits ; while the Champions and Magnum 

 Bonums were free from disease when lifted, and are still keeping 

 well in the pits. The disease made its appearance among the older sorts 

 about a month before lifting time. From the intense frost that has pre- 

 vailed this year a good many are frosted in the pits and reduced to a pulp. 

 Turnip crop was the best and most abundant that has been for many 

 years ; but from the severe antl long-continued intense frost quidity 

 has been much deteriorated. The yellow (tleshed) turnips on some farms 

 are reduced to a pulp ; tliis crop brairded well and came away very fast 

 to the hoe ; in fact it was with great difficulty that hoers could be got 

 to single the turnij) plants in time ; no second sowing was re<iiuied. Lust 

 year this ero[) was very deficient, and would not average more tnan 12 tons ; 

 thid year the average would be from 16 to 20 tons, and on some farms as 

 high as 25 tons. No damage done by insects. This was a splendid season 

 for cleaniiig the land, and therefore there was no weeds. Owing to tlie 

 great scarcity of turnips bust year, cattle ioid sheep were turned upon the 



i)asture8 much earlier than usual, hence the tieUis were eaten down and 

 Lept short duriu'' the whole season ; when relieved of stock for a time the 

 growth and (piality good. As a number of the cattle and sluej) were 

 in rather lean condiliuu from the want of a full suj)ply of turni]).>< during 

 winter and spriug, they were six weeks upon the gra.ss before any percep- 

 tible difference could be obfierved, but after that time they throve well. 



