394 THE CEREAL AND OTHEE CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1880, 



sulpliuric acid, Avhicli is ruining both the land and the farmers. The 

 pastures, after the middle of May, were generally abundant and fine quality, 

 and, owing to the warm and moderately dry summer, stock of all kinds 

 made good progress, a great contrast to the season of 1879 when the cattle 

 made no flesh, although in full pastures. Cattle and sheep both throve 

 well, and were c^uite free from disease. The sheep kept are mostly black- 

 faced, the clip from which was a full average weight and quality. 



Morayshire. — Wheat — the grain would be one-half more than last year 

 in quantity. 1879 was a bad year for out-turn of grain owing to its 

 extreme wetness. 1880, on account of its dryness, was a good wheat year, 

 the straw rather under quantity of 1879, but the quality of both grain and 

 straw very good, being well harvested ; the quantity of grain Avould be 

 about 34 bushels. When sown by the drill, from 2-| to 3^ bushels ; and 

 when sown broadcast, about 3^ to 4^ bushels. Barley would be rather 

 under an average as to quantity of grain and straw, but the quality of both 

 very good, some samples of barley being 60 lbs. per bushel. The weather 

 was extremely dry during the months of May and June, which prevented 

 the crop from making a good start to ensure bulk of straw and quantity of 

 grain. ComjDared with 1879 the quantity of grain would be fully one-third 

 more, but the bulk of straw one-third less ; average, 32 bushels, Oats are 

 not largely sown, the soil being too dry for them. Compared with 1879 the 

 bulk of straw would only be about one-half, but the quantity of grain one- 

 fourth more than in 1879. This aj^plies to the earlier district. In the later 

 and damp soils the quantity of straw would be only one-fourth less, while 

 the quantity of grain would be one-half more ; the average of grain would 

 be about 32 Ijushels. Harvest began about one month earlier than in 

 1879, and from two to three weeks earlier than the average. The summer 

 being extremely hot and dry, in the lighter and sandy soils forced the 

 crops to early maturity. Less rain perhaps fell in the lower districts 

 of the county than in any other district in Scotland. Except on 

 some low-lying damp soils the hay crop was extremely light, in most 

 cases not over one-haK of the weight of 1879, and the quality rather 

 inferior from a deficiency of clover. On light soils the quantity would not 

 be more than 10 cwts ; on heavier soils, 30 cwts. No meadow hay. The 

 potato crop would perhaps be nearly double that of last year, and scarcely 

 any disease ; the quantity would vary from 3 to 6 tons. The weight 

 of the turnip crop would be one-third heavier than last year, and quality 

 superior. A fearful gale of wind on the 26th May levelled down the drills 

 on a large portion of the light soils which required to be re-sown, and the 

 extreme drought prevented brairding on the heavy soils in many cases till 

 far on in the season, still they turned out well ; the crop in whole above 

 the average ; the weight would be from 10 to 23 tons. Great damage has 

 been done to the turnip crop by the very severe and protracted frost of the 

 past two months. A large portion of the bulbs, where not furrowed up, are 

 fast decaying, more especially the Yellows, which are almost useless. 

 Little or no d.amage by insects, and not more than ordinary by weeds, but 

 a very considerable portion of the land is not nearly in that state of clean- 

 ness from weeds which it ought to be, and might be. The pastures in 

 general did not produce more than about one-half of the grass of last year. 

 On the higher lands in the month of June, they Avere burned cjuite brown, 

 afi^ording very little food for stock, but the extreme heat seemed to make 

 up for the deficiency to a considerable extent. As a rule stock did not 

 make much progress on the pastures, but were free from disease. The 

 previous winter being mild ancl favourable for the growth of wool, the clip 

 was fully an average. 



Nairnshire. — No wheat grown. Barley and straw an average crop, of good 

 cjuality, but not so abmidant as last year. Grain over an average, say 28 



