336 THE CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAXD FOR 1883, 



favourable one, and with rare exceptions tlie crops were well got. The hay 

 crop Avas a small one, about 1^ to If ton, and of only moderate quality, 

 being short of clover in a good many instances. Farmers who cut their 

 hay early had their crop greatly damaged, but those who waited till the 

 weather cleared up secured their hay in good order. The quantity of 

 meadow hay grown is very insignificant. A fair crop of Magnum Bonums 

 and Champions, from 5 to 6 tons — a little disease in these varieties, but that 

 very trifling ; Regents little grown, but where grown they were badly 

 diseased; Reading Hero, a new variety, has been found more diseased 

 than Champions and Magnums, and is also a much smaller cropper. The 

 turnip crop is variable; in many instances it did not braird well, and 

 required re-soA\dng; the crop also in very many instances made little 

 progress during summer. There are all kinds of crops in the district — the 

 full crop of over 20 tons, the half crop of 10, and the failure comj)lete 

 or partial. A good deal of injury from the turnip fly in the earlier part of 

 the season, but not so much as in some previous seasons. On account of 

 excessive rains in the summer, turnips became so smothered with weeds as 

 to be almost unmanageable — in some cases, indeed, the weeds obtained 

 complete mastery. These weeds were charlocks, chickweed, couchgrass, 

 and coltsfoot. Pasture grass was not nearly so abundant as in 1882. 

 Stock throve moderately well. Both pleuro and foot-and-mouth disease 

 were in this quarter in 1883, but the district is presently clear of both; 

 cattle from Ireland brought both diseases. The quality of wool and weight 

 both over average, but prices quite disheartening. 



Perthshire (Western District). — No wheat grown, and hardly any 

 barley. Oats fully up to the average. Harvest about a fortnight later 

 than the average. Ryegrass a good crop. Meadow and natural hay, fully 

 up to the average. Potato crop, fully up to the average; not much 

 diseased. Turnips, an average crop; one sowing sufiiced. No injury by 

 insects to any extent, and none from weeds, excepting where bad farming 

 existed. Pastures, average growth and quality. Stock throve very well, 

 and were free from disease. Clip of wool fully average, weight and quality 

 good. 



Perthshire (Lower Strathearn). — Wheat, 30 bushels ; bad crop, owing 

 to little winter wheat being soA\ai o^Wng to wet autumn ; 3 bushels sown. 

 Barley, 32 bushels ; quality not as good as last year and less extract ; colour 

 bad ; 3| bushels sown. Oats, 44 bushels, good quality ; much the same as 

 regards quantity and quality as last year ; 4 bushels seed so"«ai. Harvest 

 began about usual time. Hay 1 ton 10 cwt. ; bad hay harvest, and a large 

 quantity damaged, and meadow hay much the same. Potato crop, 4 tons 

 10 cwt. ; Regents very much diseased; Champions and Magnums very little 

 diseased ; quality fine ; no new varieties planted. Turnip crop would not 

 average 10 tons ; not much over half a crop ; swedes brairded badly owing 

 to dry weather at the time; not much turnip fly. No injury by insects and 

 none by weeds. Pastures of average growth and quality. Stock throve 

 fairly Avell, and were free from disease, except a few cases of imported foot- 

 and-mouth disease. Clip of wool an average. 



Perthshire (Highland District). — No wheat grown. Neither the 

 quantity nor quality of barley so good as last year — from 28 to 32 bushels ; 

 weight from 48 to 50 lbs. ; straw deficient. Oats from 32 to 36 bushels ; 

 weight from 38 to 40 lbs. ; much shag; quantity sown, 5 bushels ; straw 

 deficient. Harvest same date as last year ; weather excellent. Hay, under 

 the average — 18 cwt. ; fairly well secured ; average quality ; ryegrass and 

 clover equal. ]\Ieadow hay, fair crop — 4 or 5 cwt. less than last year. 

 Potato crop, inferior; small in size; 2| tons; no disease; well secured, 



