A^B METEOROLOGY OF THE YEAR RELATIVE THERETO. 341 



very thin on the ground, on account of the extremely wet autumn ; the 

 seed was put in with the hand in bad condition ; in spring it was much 

 injured by a frosty gale of wind for some days ; and in May no one perhaps 

 saw the crop look so bad ; the average will be one quarter below last year ; 

 the weight of grain about the same ; seed sown, from 3 to 4 bushels. 

 Barley, as to grain and straw, quite equal to last year both as to quantity 

 and quality ; but the bulk of straw is at least one-fii'th under last year, the 

 result of the extremely dry weather during the months of May and June ; 

 when rain came the straw lengthened out wonderfully, but it wanted 

 strength, and was easily laid ; the average would be for the " Laigh of 

 Moray," 32 bushels ; the seed, 2^ to 4 bushels. Oats are under average 

 both as to quantity of grain and straw^ ; the drought referred to injured 

 the crop at an early stage. The quality of the grain is 2 lbs. per bushel 

 below the average, and 1 lb. per bushel under last year's weight ; while the 

 quantity of straw would be one-fourth under. The lightness of the grain 

 seems to be unaccountable ; as the summer in the district was not 

 unusually wet, there was a want of simshine, but w^eather mild ; seed used, 

 3 to 4 bushels. Harvest began about same time as last y^ar, fully a week 

 later than the usual time ; was general in the last week of August ; very 

 little rainfall, but the weather was very close and misty, wdth great absence 

 of drying wind ; the crop w^as not as a whole well harvested. The hay 

 crop, as a whole, would not be much above the half of last year's, which 

 was an extreme crop ; the drought of May ruined the crop in many cases ; 

 it w^as not 10 cwt. per acre, and the average would not be more than 25 cwt. 

 Little or no meadow haj*. The potato crop was considerably higher than 

 last year's as to weight, with very little disease ; the quantity would average 

 from 2 to 7 tons per acre; the quality very good, with the exception of Magnum 

 Bonums ; no new variety was planted to any extent. The turnip crop is 

 perhaps the most deficient in quantity and quality, of any for many years. 

 The dry weather in the beginning of June prevented a good deal of the 

 seed from vegetating till a late period ; in such cases the crop was con- 

 sequently very light ; really good fields are quite the exception ; finger- 

 and-toe and canker has been more prevalent than in any former season ; 

 the crop w^ould be one-third below last year's, and would average from 3 

 to 20 tons per acre ; not a very great re-sowing was required. No special 

 damage from insects, and not more than ordinary from weeds ; but by far 

 too many weeds are to be seen ; a far more perfect state of cultivation 

 would be advantageous. Pastures rather under average gTowth and 

 quality, and fully one-third under last year's quantity. In general the 

 pastures were too bare for stock making satisfactory progress ; cattle in 

 general came off them in leaner condition than ordinary, but were free 

 from disease. The clip of wool would be rather under the average. 



Nairnshire. — Scarcely any wheat grown. Barley much the same in 

 quantity, but quality lighter ; 3 to 4 bushels sown. Oats about average 

 quantity, but light in weight ; 4 to 6 bushels sown. Harvest began 1st 

 September, say three weeks after usual time. Hay crop light. Potato 

 crop good; very little disease. Turnip crop fair, but in some places very 

 much affected witli finger-and-toe. Pasture of average growth and quality. 

 Stock throve fairly well, and were free from disease. 



Inverness-shire (District of Inverness). — Very little wheat sown ; 

 quantity about 30 bushels average — (iuality fair ; owing to moist summer, 

 cro])s were lodged, and (juality of straw inferior ; about 3 bushels sown ; 

 quality similar to 1882. Yield of barley on best land, about 40 bushels ; 

 quality soft, and light in weight; straw soft, in con.sequence of wet weather ; 

 about 3 bushels average seeding on best lan«l, and 4 bushels on poorer 

 land ; average weight about 54 lbs., compared with some 50 lbs. in 1882 ; 



