380 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1880, 



Tliere was a good deal of disease, about one-half of crop in case of Regents 

 l3eing affected, but Champions and Reds not so much ; disease was first 

 observed about the end of September. Turnips — weight in 1879, 7 tons ; in 

 1880, 20 tons ; quality much above last year ; crop brairded well ; there 

 was only one sowing required. None of the crops injured b}* insects. No 

 weeds. Pastures much better than in 1879 ; in 1879 they did not feed 

 well. Stock throve well, and were free from disease. Clip of wool good, 

 over the average. 



Roxburghshire. — ^No wheat. Barley, 30 Ijushels ; weight, per bushel, 

 2 lbs. more than last year's croj). Colour of grain darker; straw, worse 

 quality ; 2| bushels sown. Wet weather during harvest injured the 

 quality of both grain and straw. Oats, 42 busliels ; weight, 4 lbs. more 

 tha]i last year ; colour much the same, and straw not so good as last year's 

 crop. Harvest began about usual time. No meadow hay. Potatoes looked 

 like being a crop of about 8 or 9 tons, but from the early frost, before crop 

 could be lifted the bulk is reduced to little more than the half. There 

 was not much disease. Potatoes grown nearly all Champions and Rocks. 

 Turnip crops brairded well, but have been much injured with finger and toe, 

 and latterly by the severe weather. No injury to the crops from insects. 

 Weeds not so injurious as last year. Up to Whitsunday pastures were 

 deficient, after that the grass came on pretty well, Init at no time was it 

 abundant. Stock throve well, and were free from disease. Wool of ewes 

 weighed better than the previous year, that of hoggs much the same as in 

 former years. 



Selkirkshire. — Wheat — almost none grown. No barley. Oats a full aver- 

 age. Crop of grain of fine quality; 40 bushels; but under an average of straw 

 owing to the dry weather during the early part of the season ; from 4 to 6 

 bushels is generally sown. The harvest began the third week of August, 

 as near as possible the usual time. The hay crop was rather under an 

 average, with almost no clover ; very few crops would exceed 2 tons, and 

 many would not reach that quantity. Meadow hay was also deficient, 

 owing also to the dry weather early in the season ; and on hills where hay 

 is generally made, the quantity was very small. The yield of the potato 

 crop was much superior to last year, with fine quality ; there were, however, 

 more small potatoes than usual ; disease would appear on about one-third 

 of the crop, which would be 20 tons. The turnip crop was most excellent, 

 and fine quality. The crop brairded well, and required no re-sowing. The 

 crop would weigh 20 to 25 tons. No damage by insects or weeds. The 

 pastiu-es were of average growth, and quite superior in quality to last year. 

 On gravelly soils this crop suffered considerably from drought. Stock 

 throve well, and were entirely free from disease. Wool — a full average 

 clip, and of fine quality. 



Peeblesshire. — No wheat or barley. Oats about 38 bushels, or about 8 

 bushels more than last year. The quality of grain and straw was very 

 much better in 1880 than the year previous. About 4 bushels sown. 

 Harvest began on 20th August, a month earlier than in 1879, or ten or 

 twelve days before the average of the last twenty years ; finished harvest 

 on 9th September, the earliest finish on record for twenty years, excepting 

 the harvest of 1868. The clover and rye-grass hay crop was lighter in 

 1880 than in the previous year, but very much better in quality ; from 25 

 cwts. to 30 cwts. will be something like the quantity. Meadow hay more 

 productive and better in quality. Potatoes would be from 4 to 5 tons 

 more than the previous year (1879), or probably 10 to 12 tons in full ; 

 three-fourths of the crop diseased. Disease first noticeable in the first week 

 of September by spotting of the shaws. Turnips from 15 to 25 tons, 

 or 10 tons more than last year ; did not braird well on heavy land, and 



