Life in Moist, Cool Islands Made Harder Than Usual by Frequent Crop Failures of Recent Years.

Large groups of “crofters” or small farmers, emigrating from the Hebrides because they assert the climate there has changed, bringing about crop failures, draw attention to these islands off the west shore of Scotland.

“Life in the Hebrides whether because of climatic or social conditions, has always been rather hard.” says a bulletin in regard to the islands from the headquarters here of the National Geographic Society. “This part of Scotland is bleak, cool, and very moist. Vegetation does not grow luxuriantly, and the annual temperature has only a few degrees to fall in order that the danger point be reached. Turnips and potatoes are the chief standbys among the vegetables, while barley and oats grow fairly well. Pasturage is good, and stock raising is really the industry best adapted to the Islands: but this fact is of small value to the ‘crofters’ or small farmers. The cattle are raised, rather, on large estates.