1908.] 



Crop Prospects Abroad. 



453 



grains was already far advanced. Rye had been cut and, to a large extent, housed in 

 safety, and a great part of the wheat had also been cut and carried. The threshing 

 results so far were very variable ; early ripening, lodging, and occasionally sprouting, 

 have impaired the yield, so that the expectations which were entertained may not 

 everywhere be realized. In general, however, a favourable opinion of the yield is 

 entertained. The spring-sown crops have also been harvested to a great extent, 

 though latterly, in consequence of unfavourable weather, with great difficulty. A 

 decidedly more favourable opinion is held as to the potato crop than at the date of the 

 last report. The rains have encouraged the growth of the tubers, though in places an 

 excess of moisture has caused disease. The occurrence of disease, either in the leaf 

 or tuber, was up to the date of the report confined within narrow limits, and did not 

 give rise to serious apprehensions. The arithmetical condition is given as follows : — 

 Winter wheat, 2' 4; spring wheat, 2'6 ; winter rye, 2*4 ; spring rye, 2*5 ; barley, 

 2 '6; oats, 2*7 ; and potatoes, 2'5 (1 — very good ; 2 — good, 3 = medium (average), 

 4 = small). 



Fruit and Potato Crops in Berlin District. — H.M. Consul-General at Berlin (Mr. 

 P. Schwabach), in a dispatch dated 17th August, has forwarded the following 

 particulars of the fruit and potato crops within his Consular district : — 



The good prospects of a large fruit crop in this district have been largely dissipated 

 by the weather conditions prevailing during the last few weeks, heavy thunderstorms, 

 accompanied by hail, having caused a considerable amount of damage. Apple-scab 

 has also been rather prevalent, and has reduced the crop. 



The province of Brandenburg, which, owing to its large urban population, and 

 especially to the requirements of the city of Berlin, consumes not only its own 

 produce, but is also dependent upon supplies from abroad, is having a good 

 crop of apples, but pears are not so abundant. The yield of cherries and plums is 

 satisfactory, and currants and gooseberries are being gathered in considerable 

 quantities. 



In Saxony, a province that in good years is able to export to the United Kingdom 

 a considerable quantity of plums, cherries, pears, currants and early potatoes, the 

 crop is small this year. The production of gooseberries, currants, apples, cherries, 

 and plums must be regarded as only fair, while the crop of pears is worse, and in 

 many places is entirely lost. It is therefore uncertain to what extent English fruit 

 importers can reckon upon supplies from that Province this year. The Chamber of 

 Agriculture for the Province has, however, declared itself willing to put English 

 importers into touch with firms who may have fruit for export at their disposal, and 

 to give information respecting the class of fruit available, the quantities, freight-rates, 

 &c. Applications should be addressed to " Landwirtschaftskammer der Provinz 

 Sachsen, Abteilung Obstnachweis, 7, Kaiserstrasse, Halle-am-Saale." 



The other parts of the Consular district of Berlin are of no great importance so far 

 as the foreign fruit trade is concerned, the consumption being practically equal to the 

 production. 



In spite of the sufficient rainfall which has latterly occurred, potatoes were not 

 able fully to recover from the effects of a long period of drought. Although the 

 present state shows a decided improvement, the plants have come up very unevenly, 

 and some sorts are inclined to develop diseases. According to present observations a 

 fair crop is to be expected. 



Hop Crop in Germany. — H.M. Consul at Munich (Mr. L. Buchmann) reports 

 that according to an estimate published in the local press, the hop harvest in Bavaria 

 this year will produce about 325,000 cwts., an increase of 54,000 cwts. over the yield 

 of 1907. It is calculated that the total production of hops in the whole of Germany 

 will amount to about 564,000 cwts., exceeding that of 1907 by 81,000 cwts. 



France. — The Ministry of Agriculture published on the 15th August its report on 

 the state of the crops on 1st July. As regards winter wheat, the condition is given as 

 good in 39 departments, fairly good in 37, and passable in three. Twenty-one 



