515 



The heavy foliation of the plant is often very deceptive in regard to its 

 yield, while light-looking fields generally produce largely in quantity 

 and of very superior quality. He quotes Liebig in support of his views as 

 follows : " But in proportion as the conditions for the formation of the 

 straw and leaves became more favorable, so did the quality of the seed 

 deteriorate as the quantity diminished." He cites the practice of some 

 successful farmers who, on finding their crops too rank, trod them with 

 men and horses. Salt stiffens the straw and checks rank vegetation, but 

 it should be used in moderation. He always scattered it in connection 

 with guano. 



French crops. — M. Barral, with the approbation of the Association 

 Frangaise pour V Avancement de Science, proposes the following method 

 of estimating the crops of France. The departments are divided into 

 six classes, according to the extent and quality of their crops. The 

 first class embraces those in which the crops are very good, and their 

 area is multiplied by 20 ; the second class is characterized as good, and 

 their area multiplied by 18 ; the third class, as tolerably good, and mul- 

 tiplied by 16; the fourth class, passable, multiplied by 14; the fifth 

 class, as poor, and multiplied by 12; the sixth class, as bad, and multi- 

 plied by 8. The sum of these products, divided by the sum of the areas, 

 is assumed as an approximate indication of the yield and quality of the 

 crops. In 1874, M. Barral determined the average of the wheat-crop 

 at 18.50, the maximum being 20, the total yield being estimated at 

 130,000,000 hectoliters, or 368,016,600 bushels. In 1875 he makes the 

 average but 12.50, and the yield 82,000,000 hectoliters, or 232,701,240 

 bushels. During the current year none of the departments reach the 

 first class as yielding very good crops ; 13 departments are of the second 

 class; 26 of the third; 25 of the fourth; 30 of the fifth, and 8 of the 

 sixth. France annually consumes from 72,000,000 to 74,000,000 hectoli- 

 ters, and uses 14,000,000 to seed her wheat-fields. She has then a defi- 

 ciency of 4,000,000 hectoliters, or 11,351,280 bushels. This deficiency, 

 however, is more than made up by the uncousumed surplus of 1874. 

 About 10,000,000 hectoliters of the crop of 1874 were exported ; a por- 

 tion of the remainder was of poor quality, leaving from 15,000,000 to 

 18,000,000 hectoliters available for consumption. The foreign outlook 

 shows a small croj) in England ; a good one in Germany; a bad one in 

 Eussia ; below average in the United States ; a good one in Italy and 

 Austria ; a bad one in Hungary ; below average in the Danubian prin- 

 cipalities. Foreign countries will therefore demand a portion of the 

 French crop instead of supplying its deficiencies. The French rye- 

 crop is good ; barley and maize are below last year, and oats much 

 better. * ^ 



The Paris correspondent of the Mark Lane Express says that the most 

 trustworthy judges estimate the French wheat-crop at 95,000,000 hec- 

 toliters, (269,592,900 bushels,) with a surplus of the crop of 1874 equal 

 to 20,000,000 hectoliters, (56,756,400 busliels.) Spanish crops have suf- 

 fered from an unfavorable growing season. 



French vintage of 1875. — The Journal des Debuts says that the 

 summer solstice was marked by wet, showery weather, which was followed 

 by continuous sunshine, presenting, on the whole, a remarkably good 

 season for the maturity of the fruit and the excellence of the wine-prod- 

 uct. The noted wines of Bordelais and Burgundy promise their usual 

 standard. In Central France, Lower Burgundy, and Champagne there 

 has rarely been in the past a promise of larger yield than during the 

 present year. Vine-growers in this region confess themselves perfectly 



