94 THE AGRICULTUKE OF THE 



has been diminishing in these counties during the past twenty- 

 five years, barley has been increasing, at any rate in Morayshire, 

 to a corresponding extent. It will be observed that between 

 1857-70 there was a decrease in the area under barley in Nairn- 

 shire to the amount of 214 acres, but this may be attributed to 

 the fact that at that time the cultivation of wheat received 

 much more attention from the farmer than it has done in recent 

 years. Moreover, a good many farmers in the upper reaches of 

 the county have been devoting more attention to sheep farming 

 during the last twenty-five or thirty years. It will be also seen 

 that the area in jSTairn, as well as in Moray, devoted to the culti- 

 vation of barley, has substantially increased since 1870. This 

 is, doubtless, in a great measure owing to the reduction in the 

 quantity and value of wheat grown. In the lower half of both 

 counties barley is the staple, and most remunerative cereal, the 

 yield and quality, after a fairly good ripening season, being as 

 a rule excellent. Some farmers are of opinion that barley will not 

 long continue to be the best paying cereal if it remain as low in 

 price as it has been for some months. It is usually sown at the 

 rate of from 3 to 4^ bushels per acre, from the second week of 

 March to the third week of April. In the later districts it is 

 often sown earlier if weather and circumstances permit. The 

 annual return per acre ranges from 4 to 6 quarters, and on an 

 average about 4 J to 5 quarters per acre. The average weight per 

 bushel varies greatly, but in good years it ranges from 53 lbs. to 

 58 lbs. The averaoe return over the whole of both counties is 

 pretty nearly 56 lbs. per bushel. After a year of strong sun- 

 shine, 60 lbs. per bushel of thoroughly matured barley is by no 

 means an uncommon weight. As a rule, from 18 to 20 stones 

 of straw is returned for each quarter of grain, and the total value 

 of an acre of barley runs from £7, 10s. to £9. In regard to the 

 area under barley, Morayshire ranks eighth among Scotch 

 counties, and Nairnshire stands fourteenth. The principal 

 varieties of barley grown are — Chevalier, common, St Medoes, 

 and Norfolk, but the former two kinds are perhaps most exten- 

 sively cultivated. Barley is generally grown after turnips, and 

 sown with broadcast or drill sowing machine. 



The total acreage under oats at various periods since 1857 is 

 given in the following table: — 



Nairn. 



Acres. 



7346 



6089 



6161 



5897 



5410 Decrease since 1857, 1449 



