Report on Fruit and Hops. 



307 



crop in every division of Great Britain, except in the west 

 midland and south-west counties and in Wales, where it 

 appears to be about an average. Barley is below average in 

 all divisions. The best of the cereal crops at the time of 

 reporting is oats, which are given as above average in all but 

 the northern and north-western divisions of England, and in 

 the west of Scotland. 



Potatoes are under average, while roots promise to be an 

 average crop. 



In every division of England and in Wales there has been 

 an abundant yield of hay, well exceeding the average, but the 

 quality is reported as indifferent owing to excessive wet and 

 to the bad conditions under which much of the crop has been 

 secured. In Scotland, however, the yield appears to be 

 somewhat below average. 



As regards fruit, the crop of apples is generally short and in 

 some districts quite a failure, owing to sharp frosts in the 

 late spring. Plums promise a plentiful crop, but straw- 

 berries, though generally abundant, have been retarded by the 

 absence of sun. 



Hops are generally backward, but are not so badly affected 

 with vermin as last year. 



Labour is generally plentiful, but in some districts owing 

 to local circumstances the supply is rather scarce. 



Summarising the reports, and representing an average 

 crop by 100, the appearance of the crops in mid-July indicates 

 yields for Great Britain as a whole which may be represented 

 by the following percentages : — Wheat, 99 ; barley, 98 ; 

 oats, 100 ; potatoes, 97 ; roots, 100 ; hay, 106. 



The condition of fruit and hops is summarised from the reports of the Crop 

 Estimators of the Board on July 15th as follows : — 



England, East. — The reports indicate that apples and 

 Report Oil Fmit pears will be a short crop and plums over average, while 

 and Hops. strawberries are under average, and bush fruit average. 



England, North-East. — Fruit is not largely grown. 

 Apples will be a short crop, pears an average, and plums plentiful. Strawberries are 

 generally below the average. 



England, South-East. — Apples are reported to be a short crop and badly blighted 

 in some districts. Pears are an average crop and plums are plentiful. There has 

 been an abundant crop of strawberries in Hants and Kent, which, however, have 

 needed more sun. Cherries are a small crop and have been injured by the wet and 

 cold, and bush fruit is about an 'average. 



U 2 



