31G Heport on the Agriculture of 



It is difficult to give a satisfactory average temperature for 

 the entire year, on account of the great differences of climate 

 between the mountains and plains. The average temperature of 

 the Presburg plain is nearly 40° b., and the variation between 

 summer and winter extends from 95° to — 6° F. In the greater 

 Pcsth plain or Alfold the average temperature is about 53° F. ; 

 and near the surrounding mountains it is as low as 49° F. In 

 the most southern portions of this tract the maximum summer 

 temperature rises as high as 106° F., and in the winter the ther- 

 mometer registers — 8° F. In Transylvania the average tempera- 

 ture varies between 43° and 50° F., and the extraordinary contrast 

 between the heat of summer and the cold of winter has been 

 already mentioned. 



The rainfall over the whole of Hungary measures 24 imches 

 in one year, and is distributed over 107 days. The smallest 

 share of rain falls upon the plains, which only receive 19^ inches. 

 The largest rainfall occurs among the mountains, and amounts 

 to 33 — 35^ inches. 



It is not, however, the absolute rainfall which gives a charac- 

 ter to the Hungarian climate, but the inequality of its distri- 

 bution through any particular year or month. The consequence 

 of this inequality is that in many years severe droughts not only 

 hinder the growth of grain and fruit, but burn up the grass. 

 The result is a scarcity of fodder ; and famine and sickness 

 follow. At other times the rain is so abundant that inun- 

 dations occur ; and as many tracts in Hungary lie on a lower 

 level than the banks of the rivers which flow through them, the 

 water when once out cannot find its way back. Such localties 

 often remain under water for weeks and months. An extent of 

 from 1300 to 2000 square miles of flat land is thus occasionally 

 submerged. I saw large tracts of splendid land covered with 

 water while travelling through Lower Hungary, and the desolate 

 effect is heightened by the incessant croaking of frogs. The 

 noise these creatures make may be compared to that of hounds 

 at a distance in full cry, or to the sound of bells in the air. 



Land Drainage. 



The flat character of the Hungarian plains, the fact that they 

 frequently lie at a lower level than the banks of the rivers which 

 drain them, and their liability to inundation, all indicate the im- 

 portance of an efficient system of drainage. These considerations 

 also point out that drainage, to be effective, must be carried out 

 upon a large scale, and with great engineering skill. It is to be 

 feared that, as yet, Hungary is scarcely in a position to sink the 

 requisite amount of capital in order to effect this thorough drainage 



