AND METEOROLOGY OF THE YEAR RELATIVE THERETO. 333 



sorts were very mucli diseased. I have two Early sorts reared from tlie 

 seed that have done well ; no disease ; three years planted. Turnips are 

 not nearly so good this year as last year ; about 15 or 16 tons ; the quality 

 is good ; no disease in them ; brairded well ; no second sowing required. 

 Oats so"^^^l after the turnip crop very much injured by a small red worm, 

 so much so that there w^as not half a crop on the most of the red land 

 throughout Islay ; never saw it half so bad before ; the weather was very 

 cold and wet for some time after sowing. The crops were not injured by 

 weeds. The pastures were very good, and as good in quality as last year. 

 St ock thrived very well. Cattle were free from disease, and very healthy ; 

 but braxy in sheep was very bad, and also a good deal of fluke. The quality 

 of wool was about an average, and also the quantity. 



Argyllshire (District of Inveraray). — Xo wheat grown, and scarcely 

 any barley. Oats are scarcely so good this year ; probably about 24 bushels. 

 Straw much about usual ; season cold and wet. Harvest was a fortnight 

 later than usual ; not begun till about the middle of September. Hay — 

 both ryegrass and meadow — lighter than usual; not more than 3 tons 

 quality about as good as usual. Meadow hay less productive. Potato crop 

 better than usual — say 5 tons ; scarcely any disease ; quality very good ; 

 Champions and Magnum Bonums the principal varieties. Turnips not 

 generally so good ; not more than 9 tons ; quality good ; brairded fairly 

 well ; scarcel}^ any re-sowing. No damage by insects. Season being very 

 wet, weeds could not be kept down. Pastures scarcely the usual growth, 

 and quantity not so good. Stock did not thrive so well as usual, but were 

 free from disease. Clip of wool about average. 



Dumbartonshire. — Wheat, 29 to 30 bushels ; grain and straw superior 

 to last year; seed so-\vn, about 3 bushels. Barley not grown to any 

 appreciable extent. Oats, 39 to 40 bushels ; grain rather better in 1882 ; 

 straw better in 1883, but quantity less ; 3 bushels seed. Harvest about a 

 week later than usual. Hay crop, 1^ to 2 tons ; rather less than 1882, but 

 quality very fine ; clover not so abundant in hay as last year — not gro\\Ti 

 as a separate crop. Meadow hay only grown in the more highland 

 parishes ; quantity perhaps rather under 1882, but quality better. Potato 

 crop, 6 to 8 tons ; early varieties lifted before there was much disease ; 

 Regents, 30 to 50 per cent, diseased ; Champions show more disease 

 than formerly, and tubers are smaller ; Magnum Bonums and Sutton's Hero 

 are both coming into use, and are found satisfactory as to quantity yielded 

 and resistance of disease. Turnip crop varied ; on stiff land small crop, K) 

 to 12 tons, on warm light land in some instances luUy 20 tons ; quality 

 good ; grew late on into November ; braird good, and very little second 

 sowing required. No injury by insects, and rather less than usual by weeds. 

 Pastures better both as to quantity and quality. Stock tlirove well, and 

 were quite free from disease ; clip of wool about an average. 



Stirlinoshire (Western District). — No wheat sown. Barley about 32 

 bushels ; quality rather better than last year ; seed, about 3i l)usliels. Oats, 

 37 bushels ; better quality; seed, 4 busliels. Harvest commenced al>out tlie 

 usual time, and all linislied ten days earlier ; grain and straw su})erior to 

 lust year. Hay crop good, and well liarvested — about 2 tons. ^leadow liay 

 nearly as productive as last year, and well secured. PuUito crop very good; 

 7^ tons; fine quality, and not much disease. Turnii)s brairded well ; no 

 re-sowing was required ; about 20 tons of bulbs of fair ([uality. No insects; 

 about the usual (puuitity of weeds. The ])asture3 were about the average 

 gi'owth. Stock throve very well, rather better than last year. Cuttle and 

 sheep have been free from disease. Clip of wool was good (quality, and 

 rather bulkier than last year. 



