662 



British Crops of 1908. 



[dec, 



this year is better in each division, and the excess in Great 

 Britain as a whole amounts to a little over half a bushel per acre. 



The total production of barley is 700,000 quarters less than 

 last year, this being partly due to a reduction in the area under 

 the crop. The yield shows a decline of 2\ bushels per acre from 

 the high figure recorded last year, which, however, had only once 

 previously been exceeded. In England it is nearly bushels 

 less than in 1907, but in Scotland it is better to the extent of 

 2 bushels. Wales shows a falling-off of three-quarters of a 

 bushel. Barley is the only crop this year of which the yield 

 falls short of the ten years' average, the deficiency amounting 

 to half a bushel per acre, Scotland alone showing an improve- 

 ment in this respect. 



The results as regards oats are somewhat similar to those 

 recorded for barley. As compared with 1907 there has been a 

 decline of 1,300,000 quarters in total production, which is only 

 partially accounted for by a slight decrease in the area under 

 the crop. The average yield is less than the record figure of 

 last year by bushels. England and Wales both show a 

 deficiency, which in the case of the former amounts to 5f 

 bushels, but in Scotland the yield is 2 bushels more per acre 

 than in 1907. The yield in Great Britain this year is only just 

 above the ten years' average, Scotland again being the only 

 part to show an increase. 



In common with the other corn crops beans and peas both 

 show a considerable falling-off from last year's figures, but the 

 yield of each crop is above the ten years' average, though in 

 the case of beans only slightly so. In England (which accounts 

 for nearly the whole of the area under these two crops) the yield 

 of beans is 4^ bushels, and of peas ij bushels, less than last year. 



The estimated total produce and yield per acre of the potato 

 and root crops are given in the table below : — 



Crop. 



Estimated Total 

 Produce. 



Estimated Yield 

 per Acre. 



Average of 

 the Ten 

 Years 

 1898- 1907. 



1908. 



1907. 



1908. 



1907. 





Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Potatoes 



3,919,798 



2,977,485 



6-97 



5'42 



5-78 



Turnips and 



23,738,207 



22,085,718 







13-16 



swedes 



15*31 



I4'i3 



Mangold 



8,987,161 



8,936,922 



21 *OI 



19-86 



19-28 



