Crop Prospects Abroad. 



[NOV., 



for the week, and for the autumn was much above the average of the last 25 years, 

 England N.E. having enjoyed as many as 581 or 124 more than the average. There 

 were no negative degrees recorded for the week a condition which is also remarkable. 



The third week again experienced " very unusual" temperature throughout the 

 United Kingdom, and rainfall was '''light" or "very light" everywhere except in 

 England E. and S.W. Sunshine, however, was less abundant, fog and mist prevail- 

 ing in several places. 



During the fourth week of October the weather was of a more seasonable character. 

 •Only in England N.E. and Scotland W. was the temperature " unusual," and rainfall 

 was "heavy" in the Midlands and England S.W. Some snow fell in Cromer, and 

 bright sunshine was less than normal throughout the kingdom generally. In the east 

 of Great Britain the number of accumulated day-degrees was below the average, but 

 there were no negative day-degrees recorded. 



The weather in the fifth week reverted to the type prevailing at the beginning 01 

 -the month. The temperature was "unusual" everywhere except England S.W. 

 where it was "moderate," and rainfall was "light " in many places. Negative day 

 degrees were, however, recorded in the Midlands, land night frosts on the grass 

 occurred in most parts of England. 



The effect of the exceptional weather has been noticed by several of the Board's 

 ■correspondents, who comment on the fact that the vegetation has been very little 

 checked, and that the grass was still growing. One correspondent in Berkshire notices 

 that the dahlias were blooming till cut by the frost on the 25th, and that peas were 

 to be had till quite late. The wheat sowing in this district was said to be concluded. 



Germany. — The report on the crops in the middle of October issued by the 

 Imperial Statistical Bureau states that the weather during the previous three weeks 

 was dry and warm, and that rain was everywhere 

 Notes Oil Crop desired. The sowing of winter cereals was behindhand 

 PrOSDeCtS Abroad owin S to the dryness, but no reliable opinion as to the 

 * ' winter sowings could be given. Views as to the yield of 



potatoes were very diverse ; in some neighbourhoods the 

 crop had not come up to expectations either in quantity or quality, elsewhere it was 

 better than was anticipated, or was described as good. On the whole an average crop 

 is probable. Potato disease had been checked by the dry weather, and only with 

 sorts specially liable to disease or in wet, heavy soils was any large percentage of 

 diseased tubers to be found. The report of the Landwirtschaftsrat , dated 1st 

 November, estimated the potato crop at 95*9 per cent, of an average crop. 



Hops t7i Germany. — The area under hops in Germany showed a reduction in 1908, 

 the total surface planted being officially returned as 88,587 acres as compared with 

 94,594 acres in 1907. This is a lower figure than has been previously reported. The 

 bulk of this area is situated in Bavaria, which accounts for 56,691 acres out of the 

 total for 1908 as against 60,665 acres in 1907. 



It is stated {Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 4136) in the official report 

 ■of the Bavarian Farmers' Association, that owing to the low price obtainable for hops 

 in 1907, the crop which cost ^1,225,000 to produce only realized ^812,500. 



Hungary.— According to the official report on the crops in the middle of October, 

 the maize crop may be regarded as a medium one. The area cultivated was 

 5,927,000 acres, and the yield is estimated at 76,652,000 cwts., as against 

 .77,786,000 cwts. last year. The potato crop is below the average; the area was 

 1,440,000 acres and the crop 3,622,000 tons, as compared with 4,771,000 tons last 

 jear. 



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

 from Mr. Consul Wardrop, in which it is stated that the year has been unfavourable 

 lor the cereal harvest ; the dry spring tended to ripen the grain without filling it, 



