AND METEOEOLOGY OF THE YEAR KELATIVE THEEETO. 345 



Potato crop good; above an average, and of excellent quality; a little 

 disease in gardens, but none in the field. Turnip crop, a third less than 

 last year, and of inferior quality ; brairded well, but did not come on well 

 after; no second sowing. Turnip crop much injured by fly or caterpillar 

 eating the leaves after second hoeing. Crops not much injured by weeds. 

 Pastures under an average growth and quality. Stock throve indifferently, 

 but were free from disease. Clip of wool an average, 



Shetland (Island of Unst), — No wheat. No barley grown, Bere, light 

 l)Oth in straw and grain; considerably under an average crop. Oats, a 

 heavy crop after lea, but very light in straw after turnips and potatoes. 

 This is more or less characteristic of the last three years. Harvest 

 exceedingly late ; began cutting on 28th September, being three weeks later 

 than an average of the last fifteen years. Since the beginning of September, 

 the weather has been exceedingly variable, with a great deal of rainfall and 

 boisterous weather, so that harvesting was very difficult, and on some farms 

 much grain was spoilt before it could be got into the stack-yard ; grain is 

 not turning out well; it is light, and in many cases partially heated, Rye- 

 grass, quite an average, and clover plentiful; quality good. Meadow hay 

 about the same as last year, but not being cut until the end of August, it 

 was mostly all damaged in curing, and a great part absolutely lost in 

 consequence of the continual rain. Potatoes a good crop ; quite an average, 

 and quite free from disease as far as known. Turnips an excellent crop, 

 both as regards weight and quality ; brairded well, but rather retarded with 

 cold weather after getting rough blade ; came away beautifully after thinning, 

 and are still growing and green as in September. Weeds not troublesome wdth 

 this crop. The winter of 1882-83 was a very open one, and pastures made 

 great progress during the spring months ; the summer was rather cold, but 

 there was plenty of grass. Stock throve remarkably well, and were quite 

 free from disease. Clip of wool good, and quite an average. It was the 

 best winter and spring for sheep that we have had for many years. 



Shetland (District of Lerwick). — No wheat. Bere, quantity about 30 

 bushels ; quality equal to last year ; seed about 2^ bushels. Oats, quantity 

 about 20 bushels; quality not equal to last year; seed about 3 bushels. 

 Harvest about a fortnight later than usual. Hay crop better than last year. 

 Meadow hay rather better than last year. Potato crop rather better than 

 last year ; quantity about 6 tons ; slightly diseased ; disease commenced 

 about 1st August. Weight of turnip crop about 15 tons; quality rather 

 better than last year only one sowing required. No injury from insects ; 

 and none by weeds. Pastures were of average growth and quality, and 

 stock did fairly well, and were free from disease. Clip of wool about an 

 average in quantity and quality. 



METEOROLOGY OF 1883. 



The weather of 1883 was marked by a mild February, a very 

 cold March, and a temperature under the average, thoup^h in no 

 case greatly under the average each month continuously from 

 April to October. As regards the rainfall, the amounts for the 

 year were under the average of past years over the whole of the 

 east coast and to some distance inland from Dornoch Firth to 

 the Tweed, the greatest deficiency being in Mid and East Lothian, 



