THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Report gives details of agricultural prospects for Larne District

The News Letter on this day in 1892 published the following report which had been sent from a correspondent in Larne which detailed the agricultural prospects for the district.

It read: “The crops in the vicinity of Larne at the present are looking well, and are in a much more satisfactory state than at the same time last year. Upland hay has been all saved, and is of good quality. The crop is a fair average one. In some cases the want of clover is complained of, but the clover crop is a doubtful one any season. Lea and meadow grass is being cut, and the crop is something like it was last year.

“Wheat, which is extensively grown in Broadisland, Islandmagee and Cairncastle, looks well. The crop was formerly a paying one for farmers, but for some years past a good crop of oats proved to be quite as remunerative. The wheat has all just shooted during the past week.

“The oat crop, owing to the late spring, was longer coming forward than usual, but the present good weather is making up for the loss.

“The straw in some instances is short in stature, but at present it is impossible to say anything of the yield.

“Beans are largely cultivated in all heavy lands in the district.

“For some years the crop proved a failure and many farmers turned their cattle into their fields, the crop being so bad that it was not worth reaping. The crop is in full bloom and there is a good appearance of a crop.”