THE PEASANTS UNION AND PEASANTS SECRETARIAT 1 7 



on the percentage of the average and on the yield per hectare of the potato 

 harvest in 1916. According to the data as to the percentage of the ave- 

 rage yield the probable total yield was estimated at 5.9 million quintals (i). 

 If however the data as to the yield per hectare be taken as basis the 

 resultant estimate is 6.1 million quintals. The yield has therefore been 

 estimated in round figures at 6 million quintals. 



The activity of the office also included an enquiry- made in autumn as 

 to the amount of fruit available for sale. The enquiry- was made by com- 

 nmnes and the questions w^ere sent to 1,643 communes in the fruit-growing 

 districts of German and Romanic Switzerland. The answers received 

 numbered, 1,494. The quantities available for sale were as follows : 



Table apples . 200,000 quintals 



Cider apples 230,000 



Early cider pears ,44,000 



Late cider pears 40,000 



Prunes 2,700 



Nuts 1,100 



In the matter of information as to the international market for milk 

 and dairy produce, the quarterly statements were drawn up as previously 

 in spite of difiiculties caused by the war. The following organizations lent 

 their aid : 



i) Austria : General Union of Agricultural Co-operative vSocieties 

 of Austria seconded by the Imperial and Royal Society of Agriculture. 



2) Belgium : International Dairy Federation. 



3) Canada and the United States : Various communications. 



4) Denmark : Royal Society of Agriculture of Denmark. 



5) France : Various local and provincial organizations, individuals. 



6) Germany : Various local and provincial organizations, individuals. 



7) Great Britain : The Board of Agriculture (by sending publica- 

 tions), various organizations. 



8) Holland : General Dairy Union of the Netherlands. 



9) Hnmary : Division for the Dairy Industry and Alpine Economy 

 of the Royal Ministry of Agriculture (by sending question-forms and re- 

 ports), seconded by the National Society of Agriculture of Hungary. 



16) Italy : National Union of Co-operative Dairies, local associa- 

 tions, individuals. 



11) Norway : National Committee of the International Dairy Fe- 

 deration. 



12) Sxi'edcn : Secretariat of the Royal Academy of Agriculture. 

 Quarterly reports were sent as usual to correspondents at home and 



abroad. The average quarterly edition was of 2,525 German and 1,255 

 French copies, and 120 extracts in German, 50 in French, 220 in ItaHan 

 and 150 in English. 



(i) I quintal = 220 lbs. 



