AND :meteokology of the year relative thereto. 381 



had to be re-sown owing to dry weather ; light hind and early sown turnips 

 did best. Crops not much injured by insects. Turnips slightly with fly. 

 Oats — by WTje worm, but slight, less than usual. Weeds less than usual. 

 Pastures scarcely so rough, but much better quality. Stock did well, and 

 killed better than previous year. Cattle and sheep were entirely free from 

 disease. Wool better in quality than nsual, and considerably over an 

 average as regards weight. 



Kirkcudbrightshire. — Wheat little grown; what there was, above 

 averao"e qnality; straw somewhat less. Barley — better than last year, 

 about average, quality good ; less straw. Oats — quality above last year ; 

 below average in quantity, above in quality ; straw short but good. Harvest 

 abont two weeks before usual time. Hay and meadow hay much better 

 than last year, about an average crop ; quality good. Potatoes about double 

 the quantity of last year ; little disease ; no disease appeared till after 

 the harvest. Turnips — quantity fully 10 tons above last year, brairded 

 well, little or no re-sowing, quality very good. Insects — nothing of any 

 consequence, very little fly. No weeds. Pastures very much better than 

 last year, quality very good, stock tlirove unsually well, and almost entirely 

 free from disease. Wool clip — quality good, over average. 



Wigtownshire. — Wlieat — 25 bushels in 1880, 20 bushels in 1879 ; quality 

 much better in 1880 ; about 3 bushels of seed. Barley — 32 bushels of 56 lbs. 

 quality in 1880 ; quality in 1879 about 50 lbs., 3i bushels of seed. Oats — 32 

 bushels of 42 lbs. weight, and a good crop of straw ; in 1879 the quality was 

 about 38 lljs., and straw abundant but poor ; quantity of seed 4| bushels. 

 Harvest commenced about the usual time. Hay — 1 ton in 1880 and 1879, 

 but quality much better in 1880 ; both rye-grass and clover good. Meadow 

 hay less in quantity, but better in quality. Potatoes — in 1880, 8 tons ; 

 disease about one-tenth; it appeared about 1st September. In 1879, 6 tons; 

 quality poor. Turnips — 16 to 20 tons ; quality good, brairded well, only 

 one sowing ; in 1879 aljout the same weight ; but worse quality. The last 

 crop promised exceedingly well up to the beginning of August, when a 

 long drought began ; mildew set in, and the growth was checked. There 

 was severe frost for a few nights late in October, and there was little or 

 no increase of weight after that. No insects and no weeds. Pastures goo<l 

 till August, suftered from drought afterwards. In 1879 grass Avas plentiful, 

 but ]joor in quality. Stock throve fairly, and there was no disease. 

 Wool clip of good quality, fully average of good years. 



Ayrshire.— Wlieat— 26 to 28 bushels in 1879 ; 38 to 40 bushels in 1880 ; 

 quality of both grain and straw greatlv superior in 1880 ; seed about 3 

 bushels. Barley— 24 to 28 bushels in 'l879 ; 41^ to 48 bushels in 1880; 

 quality of grain ami straw greatly superior in 1880; seed about 3 ImsheK 

 Oats— 32 to 42 bushels in 1879; 48 to 60 in 1880; quality of guiin and 

 straw very superior; straw short on light lands of lower districts, but 

 very bulky in the uplands. Harvest two weeks earlii-r than average. 

 Hay deftcient on fine low lands, about one ton ; quality fine; quantity 

 nearly average in ujilands, and quality flne. Meadow hay less productive, 

 quality excellent. Potatoes — 7 to 10 tons on tine land in 1880, secondary 

 land not far behind ; nearly as much weight on flue land in 1879, but 

 heavier soils did not ^ncdd half crops ; little disease in 1880, began about 

 first week of August ; consi<lerable loss by frost in October t)n the late crop. 

 Turnips — 20 to 28 tons in 1880, being double the weight of previous season ; 

 quality rather bettt-ralso ; crop brairdcil wtdl, generally one sowing; growth 

 was rapitl. Little damage by insects, Itiss than usual. Weeds gave com- 

 paratively little trouble. Pastures — slow growth, but quality line. Stock 

 generally did well, and there was very little disease. Clip of wool good, and 



over an average. 



