GREAT BRITAIN. 



The wintry weather of March continued up to mid-April, seriously 

 hampering field work and retarding the growth of vegetation, but 

 warmth and sunshine the latter half of the month expedited the 

 seeding of nearly all land intended for grain. Probably owing to 

 additional sowings in February, the area under wheat has been 

 officially returned as 5 per cent larger than last year. The condi- 

 tion of the autumn-sown fields is said to be fairly promising, the 

 principal exceptions being on those sown late, that is, after the 

 heavy downpours of last November. February sowings are described 

 as presenting an appearance of robust vitality. Oats is believed to 

 have been sown on a much larger and barley on a smaller area than 

 last year. Excepting for a somewhat retarded state of vegetation 

 general prospects are quite satisfactory. 



FRANCE. 



Unseasonably low temperature prevailed intermittently throughout 

 a great part of April. Snow, rain, hail, and sleet were reported from 

 all regions within the first 10 days of the month, and in some places 

 the mercury fell lower than in any April in 40 years. In the south 

 early vegetables, vineyards, and early flowering fruit trees, such as 

 almonds, apricots, and peaches, were seriously attainted by frost, 

 but owing to a fortuitous covering of snow over most of the country 

 no extensive damage seems to have been done the cereals. Subse- 

 quent weather permitted resumption of the interrupted sowing of 

 spring oats, barley, and wheat, and the preparation of the soil for 

 planting sugar beets and potatoes, but continued low temperatures, 

 with white frosts up to near the end of the month, caused constant 

 anxiety over the fate of the more tender vegetation. Notwithstand- 

 ing widespread apprehensions, the agricultural situation at the end 

 of the month was on the whole spoken of rather favorably — certainly 

 more hopefully than at the same time last year. Winter wheat 

 probably covers a reduced area; the early sown, the bulk of the crop, 

 is spoken of in general as having a promising appearance; but that 

 sown in December and January is said in some localities, especially 

 of the west, north, and east, to have a thin stand, because of poor 

 germination. The condition of winter rye, which likewise probably 

 covers a surface less than last year, is satisfactory; that of winter 

 oats poor. The sowing of spring cereals, notwithstanding some delay 

 from inclement weather, was practically finished by mid-April, or 

 earlier than last year. Early growth was vigorous, but owing to a 

 period of drought and heat in the closing days of the month, late 

 reports were less optimistic. 



The French Ministry of Agriculture has recently issued its final 

 estimates of the area and production of cereals in 1910; wheat has 



[Cir. 19] 



