AND METEOROLOGY OF THE YEAR RELATIVE THERETO. 383 



Lanarkshire (Middle Ward). — Wheat about 40 bushels, weighing 61 

 lbs. per bushel, straw being better than last year ; seed sown from 3| bushels 

 to 4 bushels. Barley very little sown, that which is sown being generally 

 consumed by hares and rabbits. Oats in some places on the banks of the 

 Clyde, the average might be 48 bushels, but on the whole 36 bushels would 

 be nearer the mark ; seed sown in low districts 4 bushels, in high districts 5 

 bushels ; in low districts straw was short, while in parishes of Shotts, Avon- 

 dale, and East Kilbride, it was uncommonly good. Harvest begun about 

 the 18th August, earlier than usual, and most of the white crop was in 

 stackyard by 10th September, well got. Rye-grass about 1 ton, a very 

 poor crop. Clover a very indifferent crop. Very little meadow hay grown ; 

 in Avondale, Lesmahagow, and Shotts, the crop was better than last year. 

 Potato crop was good, but disease set in very early, and frost was very severe 

 on 20th October when a great many potatoes were still unlifted ; 8 tons 

 would be a fair average, but through frost and disease one-half would be 

 rendered useless. Turnip crop good, about 25 tons av^erage ; quality 

 good, better than last year ; crop brairded fairly, no second sowing 

 required. Xo crop except the bean crop was injured by insects, grub 

 being the supposed cause. No weeds. Pastures were an average, but 

 at same time in low lands the dry season burned them up ; but in the 

 hi"h districts —Lesmahagow, East Kilbride, Avondale, and Shotts — they 

 were very good. Feeding stock did well. Dairy Stock, however, did not give 

 the same amount of (milk and butter) produce as former years. Cattle and 

 sheep entirely free from disease. Clip of wool rather abov^e the average. 



Lanarkshire (Lower Ward). — Wheat — 40 bushels ; quality better than 

 last year, and about 4 lbs. per bushel more weight ; straw good, but 50 

 stones less ; seed sown, 3| bushels. Oats — 60 bushels ; quality much 

 better than last year, and 3 lbs. per bushel more weight ; straw fine 

 quality, but a half less quantity than last year ; seed sown, 5|- bushels. 

 Harvest about three weeks before the usual time. Hay in quantity half a 

 ton less, but quality good ; 1 ton 10 cwts. Meadow hay, 10 cwts., less than 

 last year. Potato crop about 2 tons more, or as 8 to 10 tons. Almost no 

 disease, but owing to early frost a large quantity rendered useless. 

 Turnips about 18 tons, better in quality, very irregular, several sowings, 

 want of rain ; for about three months no rain. No insects or weeds. 

 Pastures — growth much less, but quality better than last year. Stock 

 throve very well where the number was few to the extent of land. Very 

 free from disease. Clip of wool good, and over average. 



Renfrewshire (Lower Ward). — Barley was of good quality, both as 

 regards grain and .straw, and quite up to the average. The crop of oats 

 was not more than average in quantity, from 6 to 7 bolls ; but the quality, 

 both of the grain and straw, was much superior to that of 1879. The 

 harvest commenced at the end of August, and was rapidly secured, all 

 being in by the middle of September. The crop of rye-gra^s hay was less 

 in quantity than the previous year, the yield being on the average not 

 more than a ton. The quality was supericjr to the previous year. Clover 

 is not grown. Meadow hay was an average crop and of good (|uality. 

 The yield of potatoes would average from 7 to 8 tons in the district of 

 Inverkip. In the upper district of the Lower Ward, where the dry 

 weatlier had more effect in retarding the f^rowlli, the crop was not so bulky, 

 but the general average yield would be (louble that of the previous crop. 

 The crop too being to a lar''e extent Cliainpions, the yield was larger in 

 proportion than would have oeen the Ciise had the other chvsses of potatoes 

 been as widely sown as in former years. Disea.se showed itself in Regents 

 and early sorts before they were lifted in the latter end of the sea.son, Init 

 Champions withstood the disease. The turnip crop was very good, and the 

 average weight wouhl be from 20 to 25 tons and the quality good. No 



