318 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1887, 



county. Turnips not so good a crop as last year ; the plant came away 

 well, but finger-and-toe began to appear in many cases, and later in the 

 season dry-rot prevailed to a considerable extent ; the weight on an average 

 will not probably exceed 15 tons. No special injury by insects ; very little 

 damage done by the oat grub. Weeds seemed to do less harm than usual. 

 Pastures were generally good during the season. Live stock throve very 

 fairly during the season, and better than usual towards the autumn, probably 

 owing to fine weather ; the county has been entirely free from disease. The 

 clip of wool was an average in quantity and quality ; there was nothing in 

 any way specially to affect it. Generally the season was an extremely favour- 

 able one in the county ; there was enough of moisture for the crops, and not 

 too much at any time ; in many cases the crops of grain were unusually good, 

 but the thin and inferior lands reduce the average ; had it not been that the 

 weather of August retarded the ripening of these crops, harvest would have 

 been unusually early. 



Orkney. — Wheat, none. Barley, seed 3| to 4| bushels ; barley is a 

 much better crop than last year, and none shaken ; about 50 per cent, 

 better than than last year, when a good deal was shaken. Bere is prin- 

 cipally grown in Orkney, and the average quantity of it this year is 

 about 3(j bushels, of 49 lbs. ; last year the average was about 24 bushels 

 of 47 lbs. Oats, seed 4 to 6 bushels ; last year a good deal was shaken, and 

 also heated in the stack ; this year there was little or none shaken or heated ; 

 the average per acre this year, 32 bushels, 39 lbs. — last year, 24 bushels, 37 

 lbs. ; straw, more bulk and better quality than last year. The harvest 

 began about usual time, but two weeks earlier than last year. The hay 

 crop was rather lighter this year than last, owing to the dry weather ; the 

 average quantity this year, 1 Ion 5 cwt. — last year, 1 ton 10 cwt. Meadow 

 hay crop, only a little coarse stuff grown here. The potato croj) was 

 heavier this year than last ; but there was a good deal of disease, especially 

 among the earlier varieties ; Champions withstood the disease best ; the 

 disease commenced a few weeks before the potatoes were lifted ; the 

 average yield this year, 5 tons — last year, 6 tons. The turnip crop brairded 

 well ; with the exception of the last sown, which lay dry in the ground 

 for three weeks, when heavy rains caused it to braird ; very little second 

 sowing was necessary ; the crop is a good deal diseased this year, which 

 is the cause of the reduction in weight, as compared with last year ; the 

 average weight this year, 8 J tons — last year, 10 tons. The crops were not 

 injured by insects ; the crops were less injured by weeds than usual, owing 

 to dry sunny weather. Pastures were much better than last year. Stock 

 throve well ; cattle and sheep were free from disease. The clij) of wool was a 

 good average, and about 1 llj. per sheep more than last year. 



Shetland (District of Lerwick). — Wheat, none grown. Barley, quantity 

 and quality better than last year. Oats about equal to last year. Harvest 

 about the usual time. Ryegrass and clover rather better in quantity and 

 quality than last year. Meadow hay not so good as last year. Potatoes 

 rather larger crop, and sound. Turnip crop better than last year ; only 

 one sowing. No damage by insects ; damage less than usual by weeds. 

 Pasturage, a good average — better than last year. Stock throve very fairly, 

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



average. 



