CATCH CROPS 397 



astonishing catch crop was barley, common four and 

 six rowed varieties ; some of it was being grazed by 

 sheep, but as a rule it was cut and was being harvested 

 and threshed in the usual way. The grain in many 

 cases was very green and was being crushed and fed 

 straightway to the stock, but much of it was ripe 

 and was even on occasion sold for malting. In that 

 wonderful year 1911 as much as 6 qrs. per acre was 

 obtained on one field, and all sold for malting at 

 over 3 os. per qr., this after an exceptionally valuable 

 crop of potatoes. The immature barley straw was 

 also greatly valued for feeding. Another catch crop 

 seen in the Girvan district was curled kale, to be cut 

 and sold to Glasgow as winter greens ; but the bulky 

 nature of the produce only permits of this crop when 

 a station is near at hand. 



This Ayrshire potato growing is certainly an 

 astonishing industry, almost more interesting to see 

 in the late autumn, when the catch crops are prominent, 

 than in the heyday of the potato sales. The land 

 possesses no great intrinsic fertility, its virtue lies in 

 its ease of working and its warmth, combined with 

 its favoured situation. As is so generally the case 

 in Scotland, the soil is short of lime, finger-and-toe 

 prevails in the turnips and rape, and spurry and 

 corn-marigold are typical weeds, showing the acidity 

 following on the lack of lime. 



Off the particular strip of red sandy soil consecrated 

 to potatoes year after year the usual five or six shift 

 rotation is followed, wheat and oats being the cereals, 

 while a portion of the root land is generally given 

 up to cabbage because of the milch cows. 



In this district we found pure Timothy meadows very 

 general ; they can be readily established, and will yield 

 up to four tons of hay per acre. Moreover, the hay 



