AND METEOROLOGY OF THE YEAR RELATIVE THERETO. 311 



the mountains, crops were all very good. Oats, about 4 quarters in this neigh- 

 bourhood, but like the barley on nearing the mountains were very good, 

 and it would be very dithcult to say what the average might be ; straw 

 about half crop in this neighbourhood, but good in quality. The harvest 

 f)f 1887 was about one month earlier. The quantity of hay would be about 

 1 ton 10 cwt., and was got very good. No meadow hay in this neighbour- 

 hood. Potato crop would average about 8 tons — about 30 cwt. over last 

 year ; no disease ; no "new varieties planted to any extent. Turnip crop 

 about same as last year ; weight of crop about 22 tons ; the braird was very 

 irregular as the ground was very dry, and some of the heavier fields had to 

 be sown two or three times. No injury by insects or weeds. Pastures were 

 very short, and some fields was completely burned up, and water in several 

 places was very difficult to get. Stock throve fairly well, and were com- 

 paratively free from disease, with the exception of some outbreaks of pleuro. 

 The quality of wool clip was good, and would be a full average. 



Aberdeenshire (District of Buchan). — Wheat not grown. Barley and 

 bere a good crop ; the yield exceeds that of last year by about 4 bushels, 

 with straw in proportion ; the weight a little over that of last year ; about 

 44 bushels would be an average ; quantity sown, from 3 to 4j bushels. Oats 

 are considerably above the average in quantity, both of straw and grain, and 

 when secured, unless in some early parts, in fairly good condition ; the quan- 

 tity is about 42 bushels ; the weight from 40 to 42 lbs., and the price is 

 about the lowest on record for a number of years ; about 6 bushels sown. 

 Harvest commenced about the last week of August, being a fortnight earlier 

 than last year. Hay crop good, better than last year, and well secured ; the 

 quantity would be about 1| tons on good land. Meadow hay not much grown 

 in this district. Potatoes only a fair crop, but of good quality ; free from 

 disease ; not much grown, principally for home use ; the yield would be about 

 from 5 to 6 tons. The turnip crop is better than that of last year, good as it 

 was ; it is seldom such a superior crop of turnips is obtained. The swedes 

 are not so large, but close and equal ; the different varieties of yellow have 

 been a splendid crop, and an extra heavy one ; the average will be about 23 

 tons ; very little resowing was required. No injury was done to the crops 

 by insects this season. The land was pretty well cleaned, and the crops fairly 

 free from weeds. The pastures during the season stood out well as to growth, 

 and afforded a nutritious bite, and stock improved very much upon them. 

 Cattle and sheep did remarkably well on the grass, and were almost free 

 from infectious disease. The clip of wool was scarcely equal in quantity to 

 that of last year. 



Aberdeenshire (District of Formartine). — Wheat not grown to any ex- 

 tent in this district. Barley and bere much cultivated; this crop started 

 with much promise, and up to the first of June it was uncommonly vigorous ; 

 the long spell of dry weather in June and July completely altered the pro- 

 spect, the growth of the stalk being checked on all but the heavy moist- 

 retaining soils. Along the seaboard, north of Aberdeen, this crop is about an 

 average crop, but on thin, gravelly, and retentive soils it is under an average, 

 especially in straw ; the quantity will be under last year ; 34 bushels ; and 

 the weight exceeds last year by 2 lbs. per bushel ; 54 to 56 lbs. per 

 bushel ; quantity sown, 4 bushels barley, and 3 bushels bere. Oats after lea 

 are the best crop, and as a rule turned out best, although there are excep- 

 tions. Oats after turnips are the worst that have been seen in this district 

 for years ; the effects of the drought told on this crop, being very short in' 

 straw ; the long tract of dry weather came to an end after the oat crop was 

 about hidf cut, and frequent heavy showers, followed by mild muggy weather, 

 then prevailed; dry winds were altogether wanting, and a good deal of the 



