1909.] Notes on Crop Prospects Abroad. 



333 



The acreage of the principal crops is estimated as follows, as com- 

 pared with the area at a similar date last year : — 



1909. 1908. 

 Acres. Acres. 



Wheat 8,139,000 8,535,000 



Barley ... ... ... ... 2,842,000 2,696,000 



Oats ... ... 2,726,000 2,645,000 



Rye ... ... ... ... 2,642,000 2,739,000 



Austria. — According to Beerbohm's Evening Corn Trade List (June 

 15th), the Austrian official crop report for June 15th states that the 

 outlook has been improved by the recent rains. The winter-sown wheat 

 was not expected to reach an average, whilst the rye crop was described 

 as thin. Spring-sown wheat, however, looked very well. Barley and 

 oats had improved, and there was reason to hope for a fairly good yield. 

 Maize and early potatoes were described as good. 



Roumania. — According to official reports published in Dornbusch's 

 Evening List (June 28th), the condition of the crops has considerably 

 improved owing to recent rains. Wheat, which is not up to the 

 average, is likely to improve still further, as are also barley and oats. 

 Maize particularly benefited by the rain, and the crop is considered to 

 be almost assured. 



France. — The official estimate (Journal d' Agriculture Pratique, 

 June 24th) gives the area of potatoes as 3,819,500 acres, compared 

 with 3,857,300 in 1908, the condition on June 1st being described as 

 35,600 acres very good, 1,322,700 acres good, 2,361,900 acres fairly 

 good, and the remainder passable or middling. 



Russia and Poland. — According to a dispatch from Mr. H. Cooke, 

 Commercial Attache at St. Petersburg, the official Commercial and 

 Industrial Gazette of May 24th/ June 6th states that the late spring and 

 the extremely changeable nature of the weather did not then permit 

 any very definite forecast. Winter wheat, however, was stated to be 

 unsatisfactory in the western and in part of the Baltic Governments, and 

 also in the more important winter wheat-growing regions in the south- 

 east, but good in other Governments and in the North Caucasus. In 

 general it is nearly average. The state of winter rye is described as 

 markedly unfavourable and in general below the average. Spring 

 grains were above the average, but the cold and rainy weather was 

 causing anxiety, particularly in the north. 



In a dispatch from Mr. C: Clive Bayley, British Consul at Warsaw, 

 the outlook in Poland in mid-June was described as generally unsatis- 

 factory. Winter wheat and rye have been unfavourably affected by the 

 absence of any hot weather. Spring cereals are, however, fairly 

 satisfactory. 



A report, dated June 14th, from Mr. Consul Woodhouse, at Riga', 

 states that the situation in the Baltic Provinces and several of the 

 adjoining Governments was then serious. Both winter and spring 

 cereals had made no headway, spring wheat, barley, and oats being on 

 June 14th scarcely visible above the ground. A little rain was, however, 

 reported to have fallen in many places, but copious showers with some 

 warmth were needed to do any real good. 



A dispatch, dated June 22nd, from Mr. C. S. Smith, Consul-General 



