190/.] 



Crop Prospects Abroad. 



373 



In the third week the weather still continued very unsettled, with daily falls of rain 

 in the west and north and frequent rain elsewhere, so that the rainfall exceeded the 

 average in all districts. Warmth, however, was returned as moderate in all districts 

 except the N. and E. of Scotland. Sunshine was below the average. 



The fourth week was upon the whole drier, but the sky was usually more or less 

 cloudy and the atmosphere continued cool. Rain was again more frequent in the 

 north and north-west than elsewhere, but the actual falls were not, as a rule, at all 

 heavy. 



In the fifth week, ending 31st August, the improvement noticeable in the previous 

 week continued ; the weather was finer, the sky being less cloudy and rain slight and 

 infrequent, except in the extreme north and north-west. Temperature was slightly 

 above the average in England E., S. and S.W., elsewhere it was below it. Bright 

 sunshine, however, exceeded the average except in England S.W. 



From Berkshire, it is reported that apples are unsatisfactory and will not yield 

 more than half a crop. Plums, on the other hand, are wonderfully plentiful and free 

 from blight. Potatoes are much affected by the cold damp weather and are said to 

 be diseased. Roots are doing well. Experienced farmers say they cannot remember 

 the country being so full of grass and keep. Corn crops reported to be excellent. 

 From Lancashire it is reported that instances of potato disease are very common. 

 A good deal of hay has been damaged by rain, and a few farmers had some out at 

 the end of the month. Harvesting commenced about the 19th August, but was 

 proceeding very slowly. 



From Argyllshire, heavy hay crops that cannot be got in are reported. Potatoes 

 lifting well in quantity, no disease, but rather wet in quality. Turnips promising. 

 Grass good and oats fair in straw and beginning to turn colour. 



World's Wheat Crop. — According to an estimate, which appeared in Dornbuscli 's 

 Li?t (30th August, 1907), the wheat crop of the world for 1907 is put at 

 393,350,000 qrs. (by measure), as against 435,880,000 qrs. in 1906, 425,560,000 qrs. 

 in 1905 and 395,185,000 qrs. in 1904. The estimate of the Hungarian Minister of 

 Agriculture appeared on 31st August, and gives the wheat crop at 859,860,000 metric 

 centners (395,000,000 qrs. of 480 lb.), as against 938,480,000 metric centners last 

 year (431,1 14,000 qrs.). The deficit of wheat in the importing countries is put at 

 167,400,000 metric centners (76,899,000) as compared with a surplus in exporting 

 countries of 160,100,000 metric centners (73,546,000 qrs.). 



France. — According to an official report published in the Journal Ojfciel, 8th 

 August, 1907, the reports on the condition of the winter wheat crop on 1st July showed 

 it to be " good" in 40 departments, "fairly good" in 43, 

 Notes Oil Crop anc * "P assa ble" in i. Spring wheat was "good" in 

 20 departments, " fairly good " in 22, and "passable" 

 Prospects Abroad. in 2 According to unofficial reports it is anticipated 



that the wheat harvest will exceed that of last year. 

 Germany. — The official report on the crops in the middle of August states that 

 the estimated yields of the winter grain crops are not unfavourable generally. The 

 average condition is as follows : — Winter wheat, 2*9 ; spring wheat, 2*3 ; winter and 

 spring rye, 2*6 ; spring barley and oats, 2-3 ; potatoes, 2*6 (1 = very good, 2 = good, 

 3 = average or medium, 4 = small, and 5 — very small). The condition of winter 

 wheat, spring rye, barley and potatoes is not quite so good as was shown in last 

 month's report. Spring wheat has improved slightly, and the prospects for the 

 spring crops is generally stated to be very favourable. Potatoes are suffering from 

 disease in many instances, in consequence of the wet, cold weather ; in Baden and 

 Alsace-Lorraine on the other hand the growth hag been injured by drought. Only 

 in Bavaria and Wurtemberg are they doing well generally, and promise to yield a 

 good crop. 



