396 THE CEREAL A^'D OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1880, 



bushels, on clay land a very light crop, not over half above ; weight, 

 43 to 44 lbs. ; 10 bushels over last year ; very fine straw ; 5 to 6 

 bushels sown. Harvest two weeks earlier. Hay a short crop, poor quality, 

 1-| tons ; on cold clay lands half a crop ; one-half under last year. No 

 meadow hay grown. Potato crop — 6^ tons ; Champions and Red Eocks, 

 a large crop ; X^ictorias and Regents, average ; White Rocks and Blues, very 

 deficient ; not half a crop on j)oot light land ; almost no disease ; no injury 

 either by insects or weeds. Pastures an average gro'^'th after the rains 

 set in. Stock thrived well, and were free from disease. Clip of wool good, 

 a full average. 



IxvERXESS-SHiRE (Skye District). — Xo wheat or barley grown. Oats — 

 36 bushels, a third better than last year ; the usual quantity sown is about 

 6 bushels ; the quality of the grain and straw was good. The harvest began 

 rather earlier than usual. The hay crop was average as to quantity ; 

 quality very good. Meadow hay less productive than last year owing to 

 the drought. The potato crop was one-fourth less than last year, disease 

 apjDeared slightly in August, but did not become serious. The turnip crop 

 was about 4 tons an acre under the average ; quality ordinary ; brairded 

 very well but finger-and-toe prevalent ; no injury by insects or weeds. 

 Pastures, owing to drought, much below the average. Stock throve well 

 considering the scarcity of grass, and were free from disease. The quality 

 of the wool-clip was good, fully an average. 



IxvERNESS-SHiRE (Fort-WilLiam District). — No wheat or barley grown. 

 Oats — 25 to 27 bushels ; both straw and grain much suj)erior to last year's 

 crop ; seed, 5 to 6 bushels. Harvest a good deal earlier than usual, two 

 weeks fully earlier. Hay crop about 1 ton 4 cwt., quality better, and 

 much better saved than last year. Meadow hay above average productive- 

 ness, and very good in quality. Potato crop about 5 tons ; disease light, 

 and in some cases absent altogether. Turnip crop — 18 to 24 tons ; crops 

 generally brairded well, and almost no second soA\dng necessary. Some 

 grub afi"ectiQg tubers of potatoes ; damage by weeds less than usual, chick- 

 weed the most troublesome. ■ Pastures on good heavy land equally good 

 with last year ; thin and mossy land not up to an average. Stock, on the 

 whole, not up to an average of years ; were free from infectious diseases ; 

 pining and trembling or louping ill have prevailed above average of years. 

 Clip of wool good both as to quality and quantity — rather above average. 



Ross-shire. — Wheat — 32 bushels, being about one-tliird more ; small 

 breadth sown ; seed sown, 2^ to 3 bushels ; summer fine and hot, and 

 quality much superior. Barley — 40 to 42 bushels, being about one-third 

 more ; seed sown, 3^ to 4 bushels ; weather suitable ; quality superior. 

 Oats — 38 bushels ; straw, 10 per cent, less, quality slightly better ; weather 

 rather dry for oats. Harvest, average time of beginning. Hay — 24 cwt., 

 being lighter jield by 20 per cent. No meadow hay. Potato crop — 5 tons 

 -5 cwt., being about one-third more ; some disease, say under 5 per cent., 

 which commenced about 10th August. Turnip croj) (Swedes) — return in 

 1879, 12 tons ; in 1880, one-third less ; (Yellows)— 1879, 15 tons ; 1880, 

 one-third less ; quality much spoilt by finger and toe ; Ijrairded slowly on 

 account of dry weather, and little second sowing on that account. No 

 injury from either insects or weeds. Pastures of average growth and 

 quality on the whole and dry. May was very cold ; weather affected them 

 in July, but grew well and fast in August"and September. Stock throve 

 ■extra well, and were free from disease. Clip of wool good and average. 



SuTHERLANDSHiRE. — Wheat — 40 bushels ; grain and straw good ; only 

 gro^^Ti on one farm ; 4 bushels seed. Barley — 32 bushels ; grain and straw 

 ^ood ; 4 bushels seed. Oats — 36 bushels ; grain and straw good ; 5 bushels 



