30-i THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1887, 



straw 150 stones. Harvest three weelis earlier than last year. Hay a good 

 crop, and well secured ; yield from 1 to 2 tons. Clover extra good crop — 

 better than last year ; some very heavy meadows, from 2 to 3 tons much 

 better than last year. Potatoes, quite an extra crop ; disease in some of the 

 earlier sorts ; where free from disease, yield from 7 to 8 tons ; did not 

 hear of any new varieties being planted. Turnips, a heavier crop than last 

 year ; yield from 18 to 23 tons ; good quality, and kept well ; brairded well, 

 and no second sowing required. Did not hear of any crops hurt by insects. 

 Damage much less than usual by weeds ; in some fields of oats a tall weed 

 with white head (known here by the name of horse gowans), was very 

 plentiful, and hurt the crops considerably. Grass good all the season. 

 Stock throve well ; a good deal of pleuro in district ; sheep free, except 

 a few cases of braxy. Clip of wool, about an average. 



Eexfrewshire (Middle Ward). — Wheat has been one of the most 

 abundant crops, particularly as regards grain, for many years ; the breadth 

 sown is, however, very much less ; 50 bushels, which I should say is the 

 average, is by no means the maximum ; 4 bushels is the usual quantity of seed 

 sown. There is so very little barley sown in this district that it is scarcely 

 worth noticing it, as where sown it is pretty often on headriggs or some 

 plot which it is too late to sow oats upon ; what little there was would be 

 about an average crop. Oats, as a rule, have been a good crop as regards 

 grain ; straw in light early soils short, but in coldish soils and later 

 districts straw has been the opposite ; about 42 bushels ; grain will be a 

 fair average ; seed sown, about 6 bushels. Harvest, as a rule, was from 

 three to four weeks earlier than last season. Ryegrass hay, in light dry 

 soils, unless where dressed with light manure, was a lightish crop ; in cold 

 soils, the opposite was the case ; average might be about 1 ton 15 cwts. 

 Timothy, of which there is a large breadth grown, was an excellent crop ; 

 average, 2 tons 5 cwt. Meadow hay was about an average ; about 1^ tons. 

 Potatoes were an extra fine crop ; in some districts disease did prevail to 

 the extent of at least one-fourth among Eegents and early varieties ; later 

 soils, especially Magnums, were an extraordinary crop all over — would 

 average fully 9 tons. Turnips, an extraordinary crop ; of superior quality ; 

 I believe this is the best and heaviest crop of turnips for the last thirty 

 years, at least ; average would be about 28 tons. None injured by insects 

 so far as I am aware, nor by weeds. Pastures on light soils were somewhat 

 deficient, in later districts were considerably better than last season. 

 Stock throve fairly well ; in some cases not so well as last season, on cold- 

 bottomed land very much better ; as a rule, they have been free from 

 disease. Clip of wool, quality good ; rather over average. 



Renfrewshire (Upper Ward). — Wheat, none grown. Barley, none 

 grown. Oats was a good crop ; fair quantity of straw ; oats better quality 

 than has been for a number of years ; 30 to 40 bushels. Harvest two weeks 

 earlier ; the beginning was wet, and not good for the corn ; but came in 

 good, and a splendid finish. Ryegrass hay was fully a better crop than last 

 year ; from 30 to 40 cwt., and very well got. Meadow hay was a fully better 

 crop than last year, and was well got, also Timothy. Mostly Champion 

 potatoes grown in this district ; and a very good crop, and good quality ; 

 6 tons ; the early ones was an extra crop, and very free of disease, and would 

 be 8 tons. Turnips, a splendid crop ; no second sowing ; they brairded well, 

 and a heavy crop, but none sold, and cannot state the weight. No insects. 

 It being a very dry season, no weeds. Pastures were good. Cattle did 

 well, it Ijeing a good warm season, and had plenty of grass. No disease in 

 this district, and less abortion amongst cows, but consumption amongst 

 cows getting more common. Few sheep kept. 



