382 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1880, 



Bute. — Little wheat grown, only 1 plot of 4 acres in 1880 ; produce 30 

 l)usliels, -with a fair average bulk of straw ; as it was white wheat spring 

 sown, the warm summer of 1880 made a fair crop ; 4 bushels sown. Barley 

 largely sown after turnips and potatoes, as well as often after three years' 

 grass ; crop of 1880 about 40 bushels ; and 55 lbs. per bushel ; good bulk 

 of straw and a fi ne crop from the warm dry season ; from 3 to 4 bushels sown. 

 Oats about 36 bushels, with rather under the usual bulk of straw ; quality 

 fine, about 42 lbs. per bushel ; from 5 to 6 bushels sown. Harvest began 

 about ten days earlier than average years, and crop secured all in fine 

 order in about three weeks. Hay crop light. Rye-grass and clover about 

 same as to growth ; perennial rye-grass grows well ; clover after hay, quantity 

 about 1 ton 8 cwts., of fine quality. Meadow hay crop more bulky, 

 and of better quality than last year. Potato crop finer in all respects than 

 last year ; little disease till October, about four-fifths of crop free of 

 disease, about 10 tons in general crop, and about 5 tons in green sale crop, 

 which latter annually occupies about half the potato land. Turnip crop 

 was good compared with 1879, both in quantity and quality ; no second 

 sowing ; the average Avould be 20 tons. At date of this report, 17th 

 February 1881, from keen frost of last six weeks ; yellow varieties much 

 injured, swedes partially ; crop not covered or stored as it ought to be. 

 No particular injury done to either cereal or root crops in 1880 by insects. 

 Crops generally clean from want of rain and fine weather for weeding. 

 Pastures less growth up till September ; quality good. Sheep throve well 

 on high lands. Cattle were short of grass early part of season, but did 

 fairly well ; free from disease. Wool was fair in quality, but not over 

 average in bulk. 



Arran. — No wheat. Not much barley grown — about 40 bushels ; quality 

 good, much better than last year ; about 4 bushels sown. Oats from 32 to 

 50 bushels. Grain plump and heavy ; quality better than last year ; straw 

 good, but not so bulky as last year from 4 to 6 bushels so"s\ti. Harvest ten 

 days earlier than usual, and about six weeks earlier than last year. Hay 

 from 1 ton to 1-| ton ; quality good, but not so bulky as last year. Clover 

 a good crop. Meadow hay rather under last year, quality good. Accounts 

 various as to potato crop : — Shiskine district, 6 tons, quality good, little 

 disease ; Southend, 8 tons, fully half of crop diseased ; Lamlash, 7^ tons 

 crop good, about one-tenth diseased, Champions from 10 to 12 tons, 

 little disease. Turnips about 18 to 20 tons, quality good, brairded well, a 

 little finger and toe. Grub worms unusually numerous, but did little 

 damage to crops. No injury by weeds. Pastures under an average ot 

 growth, but good quality. Stock thrived very well, much better than last 

 year, although some complaints owing to dry season. Cattle very free from 

 disease ; in some places sheep affected by braxy and rot. Clip of wool 

 quality good, quantity about j lb. better than last year. 



Lanarkshire (Upper Ward). — No wheat. Barley from 30 to 38 

 bushels, average 35 ; grain very superior in quality to last year ; straw short ; 

 seed so^vn, 3^ bushels. Oats from 30 to 48 bushels, average 36 ; grain 

 better quality, but no more bushels; straw deficient, especially after green 

 crop; seed, 4^ bushels. Early harvest, a month earlier than last year. Hay — 

 average 16 cwts., only half a crop owing to drought, but well got. Meadow 

 hay average crop, well got, where not watered under average. Average 6 

 tons of good potatoes where sorted at harvest ; last year 4 tons ; more 

 disease this year, and several places crop spoiled by frost before lifting. 

 Turnips 20 tons, average last year 10 tons, good braird. Very little injury 

 by insects. Oat crop greatly spoiled by wild mustard ; other weeds easily 

 kept down among green crops. Pastures bare, but average quality for 

 feeding. Stock thrived fairly well, very free from disease. Clip of wool an 

 average. 



