1910.] Report on Crop Prospects on July ist. 



329 



what is known as the cotton scale, a consignment of ladybirds has been 

 imported from Australia and let loose in two or three large orchards 

 in the vicinity of Lodi, California, as an experiment. Up to date they 

 have proved a great success and the pest in these particular orchards is 

 disappearing rapidly. 



The Horticultural Commission has charge of the experiment, and 

 the members assert that it is proving far more successful than they 

 had anticipated. It is not considered necessary to spray the trees after 

 these ladybirds get through their work. 



The crop estimators of the Board, in reporting on the state of the 

 crops and the agricultural conditions on July ist, generally comment 

 on the beneficial influence of the warm and 



Report on Crop sunny weather of the first three weeks of June 

 Prospects on upon the g- rowt h 0 f t ^ e coni) po tato, and grass 



July 1st- crops. The rains which fell in the last week 



of June were also favourable to the growth of the root crops in England, 

 and in Scotland the rain was welcomed for nearly all crops. The 

 continuance of the wet weather and the frequent heavy storms have, 

 however, seriously interfered with the ingathering of the hay crop. 



The wet and cold autumn was unfavourable to the cultivation of the 

 land, and much of the wheat-sowing had to be deferred. The area 

 under wheat is generally reported to be rather less than in 1909. The 

 appearance and prospects of the wheat crop materially improved in 

 June, and on the whole a yield slightly in excess of the average is at 

 present anticipated. 



A slightly over-average crop is also expected in the case of barley, 

 •although reports on the crop are less favourable in the eastern division 

 of England and the north-eastern division of Scotland. The area under 

 barley appears to be somewhat less than last year. 



The oat crop is reported to have suffered from the ungenial spring 

 and dry weather of June in many counties of England, but prospects 

 are good in the west midland and south-western divisions of England 

 and in Wales. In Scotland the dry June checked the growth of the 

 crop. The acreage under oats this year has probably increased, and an 

 average yield is anticipated for Great Britain as a whole. 



The season is reported to have favoured beans and peas, which are 

 •expected to yield somewhat above average. 



Potatoes are a very promising crop throughout the country, and the 

 .acreage planted is reported as about the same as in the previous year. 



The hay crop from clovers and "seeds" and also from meadows is 

 generally reported as abundant in England and Wales, though less 

 •satisfactory in Scotland. 



Orchards are reported to have been much damaged by late frosts 

 in all the principal districts, and all tree fruit is very deficient. Straw- 

 berries were a large crop except in Scotland, and raspberries are likely 

 to be a fair crop, but currants and gooseberries are, on the whole, under 

 average. 



Hops are favourably reported on from all districts ; the bine is strong 

 .and healthy, and not seriously affected by vermin. 



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