Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 096
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| Year | 1940 |
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180 CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1939. well. Oals~Cr0ps threshed very well, with yields reported as high as 30 cwt. per acre; average on the better soils, 20 to 25 cwt. per acre; yield of straw rather under last year, the crops standing shorter; lodging much less than in previous harvest; quality of grass and straw much better; seed sown, 5 bushels per acre on average; generally a much more satisfactory crop than its pre. decessor. Harvest—Started about the same time as in 1938, but was completed in less time and with less labour in cutting and leading. Hay—Early cuts of seed hay rather light by reason of dry weather conditions in spring and early summer; yields about 25 to 30 cwt.. per acre; early crops got in good condition, but later cuts rather badly weathered; larger quantity of western wolth crops grown; yields very satisfactory at 45 to 50 cwt. per acre ; several instances of two cuts of western welt-h being taken, the second hay crop being about 50 per cent of the first; the later cuts secured in very good condition. [Meadow Hay—Yields about same as in previous year, but got in better condition ; average yields about 25 to 30 cwt. per acre. Potatoes Early crop planted earlier than usual, commencing on 1st February ; crops checked by subsequent frosts, however, and were lifted at usual time ; yields, 4 to 5 tons per acre ; main crops very good, yielding average of about 8 tons per acre, with highest yields at 12 to 14 tons per acre; crops generally looked healthy and vigorous, but blight occurred in some localities, and the disease showed itself in pits; Kerr’s Pink the popular variety, but Dunbar Standard is gaining favour with some growers ; sprain disease reported from two or three sources. Turnips‘Crop superior generally to that of 1938, which was ruined by severe frost ; yields about double in some cases ; good average yields 20 to 25 tons per acre, and scaling up to 30 tons per acre ; Monkwood variety of swede becoming Very popular in the district as a spring keeper ; crops brairded quite Well and few, if any, resowings required; finger-and—toe severe in a few instances; dry-rot disease continued being the most troublesome disease in the swede crop. Insects—Not much damage reportrd, and the turnip-fly was not in appreciable evidence; root maggot and wireworm attack on green crops less than usual; a few crops of lea oats thinned by leather jacket grub. Weeds—Main weeds charlock, runch, and spurry in cat crop, and rcdshank in root Crops ; fewer complaints than usual. Pastures—Growth late in commencing, but subsequent progress good; fields grazed well into the autumn and early winter. Live Stacie—Throve well; abundant keep lute into the grazing season kept stock going without the usual amount of artificial feeding; stocks generally kept very healthy, and sheep flocks maintained condition very well to the close of the year. Clip of Wool—Quite on a par with average year; weight of wool rather up by the fleece. ARGYLLSHIRE (Islands of Islay, J ura, and Colonsay). W heat—— None grown. Barley—None grown. Oats—Very good crop, averaging 43 bushels per acre (42 lb. per bushel); straw was of good length and yield heavy ; seed sown, 5 bushels to the acre. Harvest—Began 14th August and ended 14th September; this can be reckoned as before the usual date ; general yield was good in quantity and quality ; some loss was suffered by cloudburst on 3rd September which washed away some unsecured crops on river banks. Hay—Lighter than 131.5t CEREAL AND OTHER CROPS OF SCOTLAND FOR 1939. ‘ 181 vom‘; about 20 cwt. per acre for ryegrass and 30 cwt. per acre for Mover; very cold dry spring and early summer greatly retarded growth. M cadow Hay—Less productive than in previous year. Potatoes—Au improvement on last year, giving 8 to 8% tons per acre ; (Tops harvested well in excellent weather; no undue damage by insects or disease, and no departure from usual varieties. Turnips—— About 16 tons per acre of good quality ; a good crop which brairded well; despite cold dry spring most farmers caught a short spell of warm damp weather for planting, and in only a very few cases was a second sowing necessary. Insects—No damage beyond usual reported. Weeds—Thinning greatly hindered by weeds, but crop owrcame any serious damage. Pastures—Lighter than average. Live Stcck-Despite poor pastures stock seemed to thrive well, probably because of good summer weather to balance deficiency in pastures; rattle have done well, but maggots were again more troublesome than they have been for a year or two. Clip of Wool—Quality good and of average weight. STIRLING DISTRICT. DUMBARTONSIIIRE (Upper). Wheat—N one grown. Barley—None grown. Oats—Rather lighter than last year owing to dry weather in April and May. Harvest—Began about a fortnight before the usual time; those who were early in August got a bad harvest, those later got a good harvest. Hay—Ryegrass hay was lighter than last year and was not so well get. M'eadow Hay—Much lighter, but was generally well got. Potatoes—A good crop ; about 8 tons per acre ; they were free from disease; no new varieties planted. Turnips~ A fair crop; about 20 tons per acre; brairded well, no resowing. I nsrcts—No damage reported. Weeds No injury caused ; owing to the dry weather in May and J une they were easily kept down. Pastures —Barely as good as last year till late in the season. Live Stock—— Throve slowly in the early part of the season, but grass kept growing till late in the year ; there was trembling among hoggs in April and May. Clip of Wool—Fully average. DUMBARTONSEIRE (Lower). Wheat—Yielded about 43 bushels per acre of good quality grain and was harvested in first-class condition ; straw, about 25 cwt. per acre; the crop was rather better grown than last year and very much better harvested; seed sown, 3 to 4 bushels per acre. Barley—None grown. Oats—Were a good average crop, and the yield of grain was better than in 1938, but straw was shorter ; grain, 46 bushels per acre ; straw, 22 cwt. per acre ; quality very good. Harvest—Oat harvest was early, probably about seven days before the usual time; wheat was out about the usual time. Hall—Ryegrass and clover hay were deficient both in quantity and quality as compared wit-h last year ; average about 34 cwt. per acre. Meadow Hay—Much the same as last year in quantity, but quality was deficient ; yield, about 32 cwt. per acre. Potatoes—Yielded about 7;- tons per acre ; much the same as last year ; the crop was remarkably free from blight, and there has been no special feature 1n the introduction of new varieties. Turni/ps-«Yield about 16 tons POP acre, which is better than last year ; quality also better than in 1938 ; the crop brairded exceptionally well, and there was no occasion |
| Title | Transactions of RHASS Volume 1940 - Page 096 |
