AND METEOROLOGY OF THE YEAR RELATIVE THERETO. 309 



inferior crop ; straw extremely short, some farmers employing the scythe 

 instead of the reaping machine ; not more than half a crop ; weight per 

 bushel, 40 lbs. and under, except in deep mossy land, such as the Blackford 

 District, where the yield of both straw and grain was beyond an average. 

 Harvest commenced a fortnight earlier than usual, and crop well got in 

 early situations, but suffered from weather where late and exposed. Hay 

 flight crop, average about 100 stones; quality good. Meadow hay good 

 and abundant in marshy situations, but short in the uplands ; quality 

 fine. Beyond an average crop of potatoes, and no disease ; all kinds grew 

 well, l)ut it is thought Champions are declining in quality, while Regents 

 and Magnums do not. Turnips, a very good crop ; average 20 tons ; little 

 resowing required ; but the green-tly damaged some fields later on, when the 

 evil could not be remedied. Crops did not suff'er from vermin, except in 

 dry thin lands, where the green-fly did considerable damage to turnips after 

 the plants were advanced, but this was exceptional. Season very suitable 

 for killing down weeds, and keeping land in good order. Pastures shorter 

 than usual during the summer, but they thickened and improved in the 

 autumn. Stock throve very well, considering the deficiency in quantity of 

 grass, and were very free of disease. A fair yield of wool, and quality good. 



Perthshire (District of Coupar- Angus). — Wheat, 35 and 40 bushels ; 

 weight from 02 to 68 lbs. ; average crop, the best of the cereals, especially in 

 straw ; seed from 3 to 3h bushels. Barley, 32 and 40 to 48 bushels, 

 weighing from 53 to 57 lbs. ; straw, deficient in bulk ; seeds from 

 2 to 3 bushels, and when sown broadcast 3| bushels. Oats, 32 bushels, 

 41 to 45 lbs. ; straw very light and short ; exceptional fields, where early 

 sown, 52 bushels with fair crops of straw. Harvest commenced 1st August, 

 general about 3rd August, one month earlier than last year. Hay, very 

 light crop ; quality good ; 1^ tons. No meadow hay. Potato crop from 

 4 to 10 tons ; nothing of" disease ; Beauty of Heborns were planted 

 successfully in a few places ; fine crop of 8 tons, but liable to go in pits, 

 being of fine quality and soft. Turnips, 18 to 24 tons, fine quality ; a diffi- 

 culty in brairding when land was stift" ; when resown from dry weather did 

 no good. No damage by insects. No injury by weeds. Pastures not so 

 good as last year ; very good in earlier part of season, but entirely burnt up 

 towards harvest time. Stock throve very indifferent towards back of season. 

 Cattle and sheep free from disease. Clip of wool, average, 



Perthshire (Western District). — No wheat or barley. Oats, average 

 crop. Harvest began usual time. Meadow hay, very good crop. Potato 

 crop same as last year. No damage by insects or weeds. Stock throve first 

 class, and were free from disease. Clip of wool, above the average. 



Perthshire (District of Strathearn). — Wheat, fully an average crop ; 32 

 to 36 bushels, and of fair quality, but very little grown in the district ; 3 

 bushels sown. Barley, 30 bushels under an average crop, but of fair quality ; 

 3| to 4 bushels sown. Oats, this crop was exceedingly light, indeed so 

 much so that on many farms it would hardly cut so as to be put into stooks ; 

 quantity about 25 bushels ; 4 to 5 bushels sown. Harvest began about the 

 10th of August, or nearly three weeks earlier than usual, with fine weather 

 at commencement, but broken towards the end ; crops on the whole, how- 

 ever, well secured. The hay crop was lighter than last year ; quality good, 

 and well secured, and quantity about 1 ton per acre ; where top dressing 

 was adopted it proved so far a failure on light land, in consequence of the 

 severe drought, but on heavy soil it increased the quantity of hay consider- 

 ably. Meadow hay was light — less than an average ; it was generally well 

 secured. The potato crop was much above an average in the district; early 



