1908.] 



Crop Prospects Abroad. 



297 



Potatoes were generally planted late and consequently were not sufficiently advanced 

 by the middle of June for an accurate opinion to be formed of their condition. It was 

 frequently stated that they had sprouted unequally and had been checked by wet. A 

 generally favourable growth was only reported from Bavaria. The numerical con- 

 dition of the crops was as follows :— Winter wheat, 2"i ; spring wheat, 2*5 ; winter 

 and spring rye, 2*3 ; barley and oats, 2*4 ; potatoes, 2'J ; (1= very good, 2- good, 

 3 = medium (average), 4 — small, 5 = very small). 



France. — The Journal Officiel of 14th June gives the official estimate of the area 

 under crops in France on 15th May las*-, as follows : — Winter wheat, 15,497,000 acres ; 

 spring wheat, 588,600 acres ; winter oats, 1,846,600 acres ; spring oats, 7,718,900 

 acres ; mixed corn, 380,100 acres ; rye, 2,947,400 acres. The total area under wheat 

 shows a decrease of about 40,000 acres, and that under rye a decrease of 140,000 acres 

 compared with last year. As regards the condition, winter wheat is stated to be 

 good in 39 departments, fairly good in 45, and average, in I. Spring wheat is good 

 in 18 departments, fairly good in 28, and average in 1. Rye is very good in 2 

 departments, good in 48, fairly good in 32, and average in I. 



Holland. — A report published by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture on 22nd June 

 states that the spring crops were not sown under favourable conditions. Until the 

 end of April cold weather was experienced, and as a result the crops were backward,, 

 and potatoes and peas sprouted late. Afterwards conditions improved, and the state 

 of the crops is, on the whole, favourable. Oats, barley and beans are generally good* 

 but peas have suffered. 



Fruit and Vegetable Crops in Holland. — The Board have received through the 

 Foreign Office an official report dated 6th June, which states that the prospects of the 

 fruit and vegetable crops are on the whole favourable. Some early-blooming fruits,, 

 such as gooseberries and currants, have suffered slight damage by night frosts. The 

 condition of apples is good nearly everywhere, but the prospects of the pear crop are 

 less favourable. The other fruit crops are generally reported as good. The condition 

 of early potatoes is good everywhere, except in Utrecht, where it is only fairly good. 



Hungary. — The Board have received, through the Foreign Office, a report by 

 H.M. Consul at Buda Pesth dated 15th June, summarising a report by the Hungarian 

 Minister of Agriculture. It is stated that the recent rains have changed but little the 

 condition of the crops which had been endangered by the great drought. (More rain,, 

 however, has since fallen.) Vineyards hold out satisfactory prospects, but fruit trees 

 are suffering to a great extent from ravages by caterpillars and cock-chafers. 



The areas and the probable yield of the four principal cereals are as follows : — 



Wheat 8,535,000 acres ... 73,848,000 cwts. 



Rye ... ... 2,739,000 ,, ... 23,764,000 „ 



Barley 2,696,000 ,, ... 25,255,000 ,, 



Oats 2,6 15, coo ,, ... 22,479,000 ,, 



Rapeseed has been damaged by insects, and good crops can only be hoped for in 

 regions where the seedlings did not suffer from heat and drought. The same may be 

 said as regards maize, which has hitherto resisted the effects of the heat, but which 

 will require much rain for proper development. Beet has been so severely attacked 

 by insects that in some places a second and even a third sowing was found necessary. 



Roumania. — The Board have received through the Foreign Office a despatch dated 

 ioth June from Mr. Consul Wardrop stating that the lack of moisture in Roumania 

 up to the end of May had had a prejudicial effect on vegetation. Cereals and^hay 

 have suffered severely and pasturage has dried up almost everywhere. Neither the 

 autumn nor the spring sowings showed any progress during May ; they were short in 

 the straw and thin. The sowing of maize had ended everywhere, and the crop was 

 generally in good condition, especially that sown early, but in some places the drought 

 had already done damage, especially to the later sowings. A despatch, dated a few- 

 days later stated that a considerable rainfall had occurred in all parts of Roumania 

 which had done much to improve the agricultural outlook. The exportation ot 

 forage has been prohibited from 21st June. 



