734 



The British Crops of 1909. 



[dec, 



ten-year average the yield for Great Britain shows an excess 

 of over half-a-ton per acre. 



The total production of turnips and swedes is 1,360,000 tons 

 heavier than in 1908, and the largest since 1897. ^ n England 

 the crop yielded over 2,000,000 tons more than in the 

 previous season, but Scotland has grown nearly 700,000 tons 

 less. The yield per acre creates a new record for Great. 

 Britain, being three-quarters of a ton higher than in 1908 and 

 2§ tons above -the decennial average. A difference in the 

 character of the past two seasons in England and Scotland 

 is shown by this year's yield in the former, being nearly 

 2 tons higher than last year, and over 3 tons above the 

 average, whereas in Scotland this year's yield is ij tons 

 lower than in 1908, although still largely above the average. 



The total mangold crop of 1908 is the largest ever returned. 

 The increase of 570,000 tons over 1908 is due wholly to the 

 extension, by nearly 29,000 acres, of the area devoted to the j 

 crop. The average yield per acre in England is practically 

 the same as last year, and ij- tons over the decennial yield. 

 In Wales the result shows a little improvement over last 

 season, but for the small acreage north of the Tweed the 

 yield is just under the average, and nearly 4 tons per acre 

 lower than in 1908. 



The following table gives the total production and estimated 

 yield per acre of hay and hops : — 



Crop. 



Estimated T 



Dtal Produce. 



Estimated yield per acre. 



Average of 

 the ten years 

 1 899- 1 908. 



1909. 



1908. 



1909. 



1908. 



Hay from clover, 



tons. 



tons. 



cwts. 



cwts. 



CWiS. 



&c 



2,936>i77 



3,506,784 



28-85 



31 -42 



29-73 



Hay from per- 



5 ; 432,36o 



6,213,355 







2 3 -8o 



manent grass . 



2275 



25-11 





cwts. 



cwts. 









Hops 



214,484 



470,761 



6-59 



12 "id 



9'33 



Both rotation and permanent grasses have yielded a short 

 crop of hay this season, and, in addition, the area mown was 

 reduced by nearly 370,000 acres, so that the total production 

 of 1909 was 1,350,000 tons less than in 1908. 



In comparison with last season, rotation grasses have 



