i 3 8 



Crop Prospects Abroad. 



[may, 



The following report has been received from Wisbech : It is as yet too early to 

 make any definite statement as to the effect of the unfavourable weather towards the 

 end of April upon the fruit crops. It appears, however, that the " top fruits " (chiefly 

 apples, pears and plums) are not sufficiently forward to have suffered at all, while the 

 soft fruit-, raipb^vies (except it may be the very early varieties), black-currants and 

 strawberries have also escaped injury. 



Damage has been done to the red-currants and the crop undoubtedly has been 

 materially reduced, while the gooseberries have also suffered. A few warm days are 

 necessary in order to ascertain the extent of this damage, though it is not considered to 

 be great among the gooseberries. The gooseberry crop shows signs of being the 

 heaviest for a good many years, and some growers consider that any reduction of the 

 •crop due to late frosts would do more good than harm. In S.E. Kent it is stated 

 that on the farm the unsettled weather has hindered cultivation and sowing, but 

 crops have not been injured by the frost and snow. Crops look well on lighter land, 

 though on heavy land early sown oats are said to have partially rotted on the ground. 

 In the fruit plantation all the blossoming is late. The gooseberries exposed to the 

 frost and snow do not appear to be any the worse for it. Near buildings gooseberry 

 blossoms have been attacked by sparrows and chaffinches. Lambs are strong and 

 well, and but little affected by the weather. Early sown vegetables, such as spinach, 

 peas, parsnips, &c, are coming up very slowly. 



Holland. — The Dutch Department of Agriculture issued in the Nederlandische 

 Siaatscuurant for the 25th April, a report on the state of the crops in Holland up to 

 the 15th April, 1908, prepared by Agricultural and Horti- 

 Notes Oil Crop cultural Instructors of the Department. Further reports 

 Prospects Abroad ^ e ma< ^ e &* v * n § tne same information up to the 



1st June for market garden produce and to the 15th June 

 for agricultural crops. 



The autumn of 1907 was, on the whole, favourable, so that early sown plants 

 began the winter under good conditions. The cold weather began about Christmas 

 and continued with alternations of thaw, but with scarcely any snow till the 

 beginning of February. The crops were thus exposed "to trying conditions and in 

 some places suffered terribly. Carraway and cabbages were in an unsatisfactory state 

 and in places were ploughed up. Rye, where sown early was, on the whole, good, but 

 many complaints were sent in as to the unsatisfactory condition of that sown later. 

 To a certain extent this applies to other plants. Wheat sown after beans or beets 

 -exhibited an unsatisfactory appearance. Cabbages have suffered and in Zeeland 

 more than a tenth of the land has had to be resown. Few complaints were made of 

 losses from pests, but wheat is said to have suffered from a small grain fly and 

 carraway from a mildew. The season was everywhere backward, and little progress 

 was being made owing to night frosts, grass and clover having suffered most, while 

 farmers find a difficulty in getting keep. Speaking generally the condition of things 

 in the north is slightly better than in the south. Wheat is, on the whole, fairly good, 

 except in North Holland where it is moderate. In Groningen it is good and 

 Friesland very good. Barley is good, but in some places merely fairly good or 

 moderate. Rye, sown early is good or very good, sown late rather bad or moderate. 

 Cabbages are good in Groningen and Friesland, elsewhere not so good. Grassland is 

 everywhere backward ; clover though late is fairly good to good in the north, and 

 moderate to fairly good in the south. Cucumbers have suffered. Fruit trees are 

 general y very satisfactory, but in places only fairly good. In one district they are 

 said to be excellent. 



Hungary.— According to a report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture in the middle 

 •of April the condition of the winter-sown cereals in most districts satisfactory, with th 



