316 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1887, 



straw about same as last year ; in this naturally humid district the crops did 

 not suiter much from the long drought, elsewhere so general and severe. 

 Harvest early — commenced about a fortnight before average time. Hay, 

 quantity about equal to 1886, quality better. Meadow hay more productive, 

 and well saved. Potato yield about same as in 1886 ; about one-tenth 

 diseased of early 'sorts ; no new varieties. Turnip crop rather inferior ; 

 would be about 6 tons under average ; weight probably 16 to 20 tons; 

 no second sowing required. No injury by insects, and none by weeds. 

 Pastures, growth and quality below average. Stock did well, and were free 

 from disease. Clip of wool over average, and quality excellent. 



Eoss-SHiRE (Western District). — Wheat, none. Barley, little or none. 

 Oats, 22 bushels of grain ; quality good ; seed sown, 6 bushels. Harvest 

 about the usual time. Hay crop about 13 cwt. ; quality good. Meadow 

 hay less about one-fourth. Potatoes, yield about 8 tons ; very little disease, 

 and quality good ; where Magnum Bonums have been planted the results were 

 good. Turnips, weight about 14 tons ; quality good in general ; brairded well, 

 and only one sowing required. In some localities finger-and-toe appeared in 

 turnip crop. Not to any great extent damaged by weeds. Pastures of 

 average growth and quality with last year. Stock throve well, and were free 

 from disease. Clip of wool about an average, and quality good. 



Ayrshire. — "Wheat, an abundant crop ; a comparatively small extent is 

 now grown in Ayrshire, and of course it is sown on suitable land; on some 

 farms the average returns have been very high ; over all the yield may be 

 put at 4-1 to 48 bushels per acre ; weight of straw 1| to 2 tons ; about 3 

 bushels seed used in broadcast sowing. Barley better than crop of 1886 by 

 from 6 to 8 bushels ; from 42 to 44 bushels was a very general crop ; straw 

 bulkier than in previous year — say 1| to 1| tons. Oats, crop small on light 

 early lands ; but good on heavier inland soils, and very superior in upland 

 districts ; over all, the estimate may be 48 to 52 bushels. Reaping was 

 begun from ten to fourteen days earlier than in 1886. Hay a fair crop in 

 the lower and middle districts, and superior in the uplands ; about 30 cwt. ; 

 not much clover. Meadow hay mostly grown in the uplands, very good and 

 fine. Potatoes, the early crops yielded rather better than in 1886, and crops 

 that grew till August gave good returns ; disease appeared on heavy inland 

 soils after the middle of September, and took nearly one-fourth of Regents ; 

 little disease, and big crops on open land. Turnips brairded well, and 

 became a fine crop throughout Ayrshire ; estimates 25 to 30 tons. Some 

 complaint of Hessian fly in Girvan district ; little loss from insects in other 

 parts of the county. Charlock injurious on light lands. Fair growth of 

 grass in lower and middle districts ; abundant in the uplands. Stock did 

 well, especially on upland pastures, and on the whole were free from disease. 

 Clip of wool good quality, and over average. 



Ross-shire (Districts of Dingwall and Munlochy).— Wheat, breadth 

 grown larger than last season ; quality of grain good, quantity average ; 

 quantity of straw 20 per cent, below average ; quality good ; cpiantity of grain, 

 32 bushels ; seed, 3 to 4 bushels. Barley, quality of grain good ; colour 

 spoiled by showery weather during harvest ; quantity of grain and straw_ very 

 much less, particularly on light soils, owing to severe drought ; quantity of 

 grain, 34 bushels ; seed, 3i to 4 bushels. Oats, a very light crop ; April 

 was a cold month, and drought afterwards was severe ; quality of grain fair ; 

 only straw 50 per cent, below average quantity ; grain about 30 bushels ; 

 seed, 3i to 5 bushels. Harvest began on 8th August, about ten days earlier 

 than usual. The weather was rainy and broken. Hay was secured in fine 



