i9io.] 



Agricultural Labour in January. 



95i 



Apple Production in the United States of America. — According to 

 the Daily Commercial Nezus (San Francisco) of November 30th, the total 

 apple production of the United States in 1909 was 22,735,000 barrels, 

 as compared with 25,450,000 barrels in 1908. Since 1906, in which 

 year the crop was 38,280,000 barrels, the crop has decreased con- 

 tinuously, although more trees are in bearing now than then. (Board 

 of Trade Journal, December 23rd, 1909.) 



Bean Crop of North Manchuria. — The British Vice-Consul at 

 Vladivostok reports, under date December 2nd, that the latest accounts 

 of the North Manchurian bean crop are not very satisfactory. It would 

 appear that the beans were adversely affected by the late rains, and are 

 in consequence inferior in quality and size to those of the 1908 crop 

 (Board of Trade Journal, January 13th, 1910.) 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have been furnished by the 

 Board of Trade with the following report, based on returns from 

 correspondents in various districts, on the de- 

 Agricultural Labour mand for agricultural labour in January. 



in England Agricultural employment was generally 



during" January. regular, but a few days were lost by day 

 labourers in most districts through unfavourable 

 weather. Owing to farm work being somewhat backward, the demand 

 for this class of labour was fair for the time of the year ; the supply, 

 however, was as a rule sufficient. 



Northern Counties. — Agricultural employment was in general fairly 

 regular in Northumberland, where there were but few day labourers to 

 be affected by the severe weather conditions which prevailed. Turnip 

 pulling, manure carting, hedging, and threshing provided a certain 

 amount of work for day labourers in Cumberland, Westmorland, and 

 Lancashire, but generally the demand was reduced on account of bad 

 weather, and nearly all correspondents refer to loss of time by this 

 class of labourer. A correspondent states that many men failed to obtain 

 engagements at the Carlisle and Cockermouth quarterly hirings, and 

 there was a reduction in wages ; women servants, however, were in 

 request. Outdoor employment was fairly good for the time of year in 

 Yorkshire until the last week of the month, when snow caused con- 

 siderable interruption ; there was a full supply of day labourers, and in 

 several districts the supply was in excess of the demand. 



Midland Counties. — There was generally a fair demand for day 

 labourers in Cheshire, and but few men were reported in irregular 

 employment. A correspondent in the Tarvin union writes : — ■" Perma- 

 nent situations are fairly well filled up now, and there are not many 

 men suitable for these positions out of employment." Bad weather 

 caused a few days to be lost by day labourers in Derbyshire and 

 Nottinghamshire, but generally the supply of and demand for these 

 men were reported as about equal. Similar reports came from Leicester- 

 shire. In Staffordshire and Shropshire there was only a moderate 

 demand for day labourers, and many were reported in irregular work. 

 Threshing, manure carting, and hedging provided a moderate amount 

 of extra work in Worcestershire, but a correspondent states that more 



