332 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1883, 



tity ; brairded well, and no second sowing required. There was no injury 

 by insects. Little or no damage by weeds. Pastures below the average of 

 last year in growth. Stock throve faiiiy. No appearance of any disease 

 among cattle or sheep. Good clip of wool, a shade less than the average. 



Argyllshire (District of Lochgilphead). — No wheat and no barley 

 grown. Oats not up to the average either in grain or straw ; taking 

 the crop all round, I do not think the yield will be more than 24 

 bushels ; 6 bushels of seed used. The harvest began ten days to a fort- 

 night later than usual. The only clover we have is grown -uith the rye- 

 grass ; the hay crop was inferior — the average would be but little, if at all, 

 over 1 ton. Meadow hay less than last year, but nearly up to the average. 

 Potatoes a good crop, fully 6 tons ; nearly double last year's crop ; very 

 little disease ; Walker's Early, Champion, Magnum Bonum, and Reading 

 Hero. Turnip crop inferior to last year's ; it brairded well, and only one 

 sowing required. A little damage was done to the oat crop by the common 

 grub. The season being very wet, the green crop, especially turnips, could 

 not be kept so clean as it ought to be ; it could not be said that there was 

 any damage. The pastures did not graze well, and stock did not thrive so 

 well as usual, but were free from disease, except braxy, which has been as 

 prevalent as usual. The clip of wool was good ; over the average. 



Argyllshire (District of Cowal). — No wheat sown. Barley a fair crop, 

 as far as appearances went while in the field, but it did not ripen well nor 

 thrash well ; about 32 bushels, and weight even below last year ; seed, 4 

 bushels. Oats in some places a fair crop, but, as a rule, the bulk was 

 deficient, and is thrashing a very poor return — about 28 bushels, and 

 the weight from 35 to 38 lbs. ; seed, 5 bushels. The harvest was about 

 three weeks after the usual time, and even then grain was far from being 

 ripe, which partly accounts for the small return and light weight. Except 

 in a few favoured spots, the hay crop was very light, on an average not 

 more than 18 cwt., but it was fairly well got, and the quality is fair. 

 Meadow hay was also deficient in weight, and in many cases badly got ; the 

 weight per acre would be about 25 cwt. The crop of potatoes is much 

 better than last year, and the quality very superior. The yield is about 5 

 tons, and though disease showed itself about the usual time, it did little or 

 no damage. Reading Hero is the newest variety, and is likely to prove a 

 success. Turnips an average crop — about 18 tons ; brairded well, and 

 no second sowing required. No crops were injured by insects except 

 the oat crop, which was in many places damaged by grub to an unusual 

 extent. "Weeds were not worse than usual, except among green crops, 

 which, owing to wet weather, could not be properly cleaned. Pastures 

 were under an average growth, and the quality was not so good as last 

 year. Stock made little flesh on pastures last year, and the complaint by 

 fleshers has been that neither cattle nor sheep killed well. Cattle and sheep 

 were quite free from disease. The clip was under an average, both in 

 respect of quantity and quality. 



Argyllshire (Islands of Islay, Jura, and Colonsay). — No wheat sown. 

 Barley about an average. Oats are not thrashing well at all this year ; 

 about 20 to 23 bushels. Stackyards have not been so small for the last thir- 

 teen years as they are this year, and in consequence fodder will be very scarce 

 for the stock. Harvest began after the usual time — about ten days later than 

 last year, — but was got all secured in good order. Hay crop much about an 

 average ; the quality is good ; well saved ; no clover cut in this district ; 

 about 1 ton 5 cwt., or so. Meadow hay about an average ; saved in better 

 order this year than last year. Potato crop about 7| to 8 tons ; there was 

 no disease in the Champions or Magnum Bonums, but the other earlier 



