308 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1887, 



well, with the exception of three or four outbreaks of pleuro-pneumoiiia ; 

 generally free from disease. Clip of wool, quality good, under an average. 



FlFESHiRE (Middle District). — Wheat, yield of this crop would be 32 

 bushels ; quality rather better than last year; weight of straw about 1^ 

 tons ; seed, 3 bushels. Barley, on good soils there would be 36 bushels ; 

 on thin, rocky, or with a gravel subsoil, the yield would not l)e above 28 

 bushels ; weight of straw very various, according to kind of soils — I'rom 1 

 ton down to not more than ^ ton ; quality of grain excellent, but a con- 

 siderable quantity much discoloured by rain during harvest ; seed, 3 

 bushels. Oats, crop very various, according to kind of soil ; yield of grain 

 from 38 to 48 bushels ; straw, weight from 10 to 20 cwt. ; quality of grain 

 very good ; straw, on account of drought, very short generally ; seed, 4 

 bushels. The harvest may he said to be an early one — about two weeks 

 before the usual time. Both ryegrass and clover shorter than last year ; 

 would not average above 25 cwt. ; it was well got, and is fine quality. 

 Meadow hay not grown in the district. Potatoes very much superior to 

 last year, both in size of tubers and in weight per acre ; weight about 6^ 

 tons ; no disease ; no new vai'ieties planted. Turnips, yellows about 12 

 tons ; a very considerable number of fields very much diseased ; quality not 

 so good as last year ; swedes about 16 tons — quality very good ; brairded 

 fairly well, but some fields late in brairding on account of drought ; on 

 some fields in the north of the county they were entirely eaten up l)y Aphidee. 

 Hessian fiy did consideraljle damage to the barley especially, and the aphus 

 fly destroyed whole fields of yellow turnips in the extreme north of the 

 county. No iujury by weeds. Pastures not so abundant as last year, 

 having been much burnt up by the extreme heat and great drought. Stock 

 throve very well ; there was some pleuro in the district, but the stock other- 

 wise healthy. Clip of wool, the quality was good, and it was up to the 

 average. 



PiFESHiRE (Western District). — Wheat, 36 bushels ; straw, 1| tons ; 

 superior in quantity and quality of both grain and straw to last year — indeed 

 crop much above average ; seeding, 3 bushels. Barley, 34 bushels ; both 

 grain and straw short in quantity, but much the same as to quality as last 

 year ; dry season told much on bulk of straw ; later harvesting got rain, 

 and somewhat discoloured ; seeding, 3 to 4 bushels. Oats, 40 bushels ; early 

 harvested in fine order, later had damj:) weather and some sprout; straw, 

 except on deep land, not more than half usual bulk, owing to very dry 

 season ; seeding, 4 bushels. Harvest ten days earlier than usual ; excep- 

 tionally fine weather, but damp towards the finish, and some sjirout on late 

 farms. Hay crop, 1 j tons ; excellent quality ; crop light, owing to dry 

 season ; late cut hay got some rain. No meadow hay. Potato crop, 6 tons ; 

 excellent quality, and crop in some places very heavy, and superior to last 

 year ; no disease ; among new varieties. Beauty of Hebron attracts most 

 attention. Turnip crop, 17 tons ; quality very fine ; superior in quantity to 

 last season ; some very heavy crops on fine land ; good braird, except later 

 sowings on strong land ; almost no resowing. No iujury from insects or 

 weeds. Pastures, average growth and quality, though during the season 

 dry weather prevented luxurious growth. Stock getting a full bite throve 

 extra well, on account of the warm, comfortable, dry season. Cattle and 

 sheep free from disease. Clip of wool, average. 



Perthshire (Soutli-West District). — Wheat, very fine quality, and 

 greater weight than usual per bushel ; return, 30 bushels ; seed, 3 to 4 

 bushels ; straw fair in bulk and quality. Barley, a stunted short crop ; 

 straw inferior ; return about 20 bushels ; seed 4 bushels. Oats, a very 



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