378 



Crop Prospects Abroad. 



[august, 



Hungary. — The Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, in the report on the condition 

 of the crops on the 15th July, states that the weather in the first half of July was 

 generally dry and hot, and materially hastened the harvest, which is now over. The 

 yield appears to vary considerably, but until the trial threshings are finished it would 

 be premature to make a definite statement. So far as has been ascertained, the yield 

 of wheat is likely to be better than the previous estimate, but it is stated that it 

 cannot, in general, be described as satisfactory. The yield of rye is likely to be below 

 the average, but of medium quality. Winter barley is satisfactory, but summer barley 

 below the average. The oat crop leaves much to be desired both as regards quantity 

 and quality. Early potatoes have yielded few tubers, but the late sorts promise, with 

 favourable weather, to give an abundant yield. 



Norway. — The Board have received, through the Foreign Office, a despatch, 

 dated 6th July, 1908, from Mr. F. E. Drummond Hay, H.M. Consul at Christiana, 

 stating that the harvest prospects this year are fairly promising. The winter was 

 comparatively mild nearly all over the country, and ploughing and sowing took 

 place under favourable circumstances. The hay crops are promising in the south 

 and west of the country and in some counties very promising. In the five northern- 

 most counties an average crop is expected, in Tromso county, perhaps, even a 

 little above the average. A good deal of damage was done to the rye sown in the 

 autumn, but the spring grain looks promising. Potatoes and turnips, satisfactory. 

 The prospects for the fruit crops vary ; in the south-west, from Jarlsberg and 

 Larvik to South Bergenhus ' (Stavanger excluded), the yield is expected to be below 

 the average, and small in Lister and Mandal. 



Sweden. — According to a statement issued by the Swedish Board of Agriculture 

 on 17th July showing the condition of the crops at the end of June, the average yield 

 is estimated as follows : —Winter wheat, 4*0; winter rye, 3*6; barley, 37; oats, 

 37; mixed corn, 3 - 8; leguminous crops, 37; potatoes, 3*4; sugar-beet, 3^4 ; hay 

 from pasture land, 4*3 ; and meadow hay, 4*0 ; (5 = very good, 4 = good, 3 = average, 

 2 = poor, 1 =: very poor). H.M. Consul at Stockholm (Mr. M. Villiers) states that 

 the spring sowings appear full of promise and are better than for many years. The 

 average for the Kingdom is reckoned at 37 and 3*8 in recent official notes. The 

 weather in July had not, up to the 17th, improved the harvest prospects. Industrial 

 strikes will probably give farmers a better chance of engaging labourers, who are 

 usually very scarce. 



France. — H.M. Consul at Bordeaux, writing on 21st July, stated that owing to 

 wet weather the wheat harvest was being gathered under unfavourable conditions. 

 It is anticipated that the crop will be below the normal, the grain weighing 57 to 59 

 lb. per bushel. The stocks remaining over from the abundant harvest of 1907 may 

 prove sufficient to meet this year's shortage. 



Russia. — The Board have received through the Foreign Office a summary of 

 a communication issued by the Russian Ministry of the Interior and published in the 

 St. Petersburg press of 9th July. The statement is based on telegraphic reports 

 received from the Governors of Provinces, Bourse Committees, Agricultural Societies, 

 and Local Authorities. The total area intended in 1907 for winter sowing in 

 the 87 Governments and Territories of the Empire (Finland, the Island of Sakhalin, 

 and the Amur and Maritime Territories being excluded) was 86,292,000 acres and 

 that actually sown was 74,653,000 acres. Of this area 56,623,000 acres, or about 

 two-thirds, are in a good or satisfactory condition, the remainder being unsatisfactory, 

 bad or worthless. Part of the latter area has been resown for the spring crop. 



The area which it was proposed to devote to spring sowing in the 87 Governments 

 and Territories was 149,819,000 acres and that actually under seed is 153,742,000 

 acies, of which 94,810,000 acres afford the prospect of a good or satisfactory harvest, 

 whilst 14,990,000 acres will be unsatisfactory or bad. Abundant rain fell over most 



