326 Demand for Agricultural Machinery Abroad, [july, 



kilogram in white clover, hybrid, or alsike clover, and Lotus corniculatus 

 (bird's-foot trefoil). 



The Law of December 24th, 1888, authorises prefects to enforce the 

 destruction of dodder in their respective departments. Seeds containing 

 dodder may still be sold, but on the express condition that the sacks 

 bear on the outside in clear characters the words " non dicuscute " 

 (not freed from dodder). 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



France. — The total weight of agricultural machinery imported into 

 the consular district of Bordeaux in 1908 was 6,946 metric tons, of 

 Demand for which 1,056 tons were from the United King- 



- . , dom. This shows a decrease on the total im- 



M v Al> A portation compared with 1907 of 1,398 tons, 



Machinery Abroad. and an increase in British machinery of 88 tons. 



Notwithstanding a late hay crop, the sale of mowers and other hay- 

 making implements in 1908 proved an average season, and fair business 

 was done in reapers. The prospects for 1909 are not yet well defined, 

 but appear to be good, considering the orders already booked for har- 

 vesting machinery in general. In anticipation of a probable increase 

 in the French customs duties, some firms have placed large orders 

 abroad, so that a considerable increase in imports is likely to be marked 

 in 1909. French mowers, reapers, and binders have hitherto met with 

 little favour, owing to the superiority of British and American imple- 

 ments, but horse rakes, tedders, hoes, and harrows manufactured in the 

 centre of France are steadily displacing imported articles. The British 

 threshing machinery trade has been well maintained against French 

 makers at Vierzon, who accept very low prices. Our tackle is every- 

 where recognised as being heavier, but better made, and well worth 

 the difference in value, but British makers must expect to find increas- 

 ing difficulty in keeping this market to themselves. (F.O. Reports, 

 Annual Series, No. 4,246.) 



Russia. — The British Vice-Consul at Kharkov (Mr. C. Blake} 7 ) reports 

 that in 1900 (the last year for which these particulars are available) there 

 were in Russia 159 factories for the manufacture of agricultural 

 machinery, employing 11,151 workmen. Since 1900 the manufacture 

 of agricultural machinery has increased considerably. The Vice-Consul 

 estimates the present yearly output as follows, viz. : — 



Articles. Number. Value. 



Ploughs ... 550,000 ,£792,000 



Grain drills ... ... ... ... 80,000 950,000 



Reapers, hand-rakes ... ... ... 70,000 844,000 



Horsegear and threshers ... ... 8,000 169,000 



Portable engines ... ... ... 100 32,000 



Winnowers, chaff-cutter r and sundry.. — 116,000 



^2,903,000 



The value of agricultural machinery sold by the County Councils 

 (Zemstvos) in 1904, 1905, and 1906 was 6,616,000 roubles (698, 400/.), 

 7,153,000 roubles (755,0001.), and 6,382,000 roubles (673,700?.), respec- 

 tively. A falling off in the sales in 1907 and 1908 was expected, owing 

 to the financial straits of the Councils, and their previous losses in the 

 trade. (Board of Trade Journal, June 17th, 1909.) 



