A^^D METEOEOLOGY OF THE YEAK EELATIVE TllEEETO. 393 



this crop where not stored, and in many cases two-thirds the Yellows 

 have completely rotted ; Swedes have stood out better, but are very much 

 deteriorated in quality. There was no unusual destruction of crops by either 

 insects or weeds, the latter havinfj been less abundant than in average 

 years. The pastures were generally good, and much more abundant than 

 last year. Stock made more progress during the grass season than they 

 have done for several years. This may be accounted for partly from having 

 been upon short allowance during the winter owing to the failure of the 

 turnip crop, and partly on account of the fine dry summer. There was no 

 disease either among cattle or sheep. The quality of the wool was fully up 

 to the average, and the quantity about the average. 



Banffshire (Lower District). — Xo wheat grown. Barley, 35 bushels in 

 1880, as against 24 bushels in 1879. Quality very inferior in 1879, but 

 excellent, both grain and straw, in 1880. Oats, 36 bushels in 1880, and 

 quality of grain and straw excellent, against 26 bushels in 1879. Harvest 

 three weeks earlier in 1880 than usual, and considerably shorter. Hay 

 crop, 1 ton 15^ cwts. in 1880, and of excellent quality, against 1 ton 4 cwts. 

 of very inferior quality of hay in 1879. No meadow hay. Potatoes not 

 much grown, but in 1880 the yield might be 8 tons as against 5 tons in 



1879. Turnip crop — 20 tons in 1880, against 10 tons in 1879. Quality, 

 where stored, very greatly better in 1880 than in 1879. Came well in 



1880, and few were re-sown. No insects. No injury by weeds in 1880, but 

 great injury by wild mustard in 1879. Pastures of average gro\si:h and 

 quality, and feeding power much greater than in 1879. Cattle throve well 

 and were free from disease. Few sheep, but clip of 1880 would be about 

 average. 



Banffshire (Upper District). — No wheat gro^ai. Barley was a full 



crop of extra quality in 1880, at least double the quantity of crop 1879, and 



the weight per bushel in 1880 was from 6 to 8 lbs. more than the pre^'ious 



year. The straw was fair quality both seasons, and not so deficient as the 



grain in 1879 ; the usual quantity of seed sown is 4 bushels. Oats were a 



full crop in 1880 both as regards grain and straw ; sample particularly 



clear, and weight from 42 to 43 lbs. per bushel, or 3 lbs. over an average, in 



1879. Oats were deficient both in quantity and quality, but the straw, 



owing to being green cut and well harvested, was superior quality for 



fodder ; an average of 6 bushels is usually sown. The early summer l)eing 



dry, with a high temperature, all crops made great progress, which was 



continued by the genial showers in the end of June. The crops never lost 



the early start, and came to maturity at least fourteen days earlier than an 



average season, and from four to five weeks before 1879. Owing to the 



dry weather in May, and through the greater part of June, the hay crop 



was under an average bulk, but fine quality, with a full proportion of 



clover. The fine dry season enabled the crop to be secured in excellent 



condition ; the average weight would not exceed 1 ton. Meadow liay is 



not grown. Potatoes, where properly laid down with a full (|uantity of 



manure, were nearly double an ordinary crop, or about 7 tons ; quality 



very fine, partly diseased ; disease appeared early in October. Potatoes are 



not usually grown as a marketable ccjnimodity, and do not receive the same 



careful treatment as where this is so. Turnips were considerably over an 



average crop, particularly Yellows ; Swedes do not grow to the size usually 



met with on the finer soils of either Aberdeen or Moray shires ; the 



average weight would be about 20 tons ; quality originally good, but those 



in the ground arc all destroyed by the long frost ; braird regular; no case of 



second sowing. No injury by insects. The diy warm season j^revented 



the growth ot the most noxious of all weetls, Van; now very common in 



wet cold seasons; it is caused from weakness in the soil, induced by the too 



frequent application of stinmlants in the fonn of ammonia, nitrate, and 



