332 



Notes on Crop Prospects Abroad. [july,. 



Canada. — During the greater part of the month the weather has 

 been very dry in the "prairie" provinces. Considerable precipitation 

 since the 14th has Been very beneficial. Harvest prospects are encourag- 

 ing; but the cold weather during June has delayed the progress of the 

 crops. 



Argentina. — The Government of Argentina has telegraphed that 

 unfavourable weather conditions prevailed during the preparation of the 

 ground, thus causing a delay in the season as compared with last year. 



New. Zealand. — During the preparation of the ground, meteorological 

 conditions were favourable, and during sowing, excellent; 70 per cent, 

 of the work of sowing was completed by June 1st. The season is, in 

 general, the same as last year. 



Germany. — According to the Report of the Imperial Statistical 

 Bureau, referring to the middle of June, the condition of the crops was 

 as follows: — Winter wheat, 2*2; spring wheat, 2"5 ; winter rye, 2*4; 

 spring rye, 2*5; barley, 2*5 ; oats, 2'6; potatoes, 2*5 (i=very good; 2 = 

 good; 3 = medium (average); 4 = small). The month was characterised 

 by unusually high temperatures, and in many districts complaints 

 were made of drought. On the other hand, in many parts great 

 damage has been done by rain and hail. 



Winter cereals withstood the drought well, and, on the whole, the 

 prospects of harvest are still more favourable than in the previous 

 month. Reports vary with regard to spring cereals. The growth has 

 been good where rain has fallen, but in the districts where drought has 

 prevailed, the crop is backward, especially in the case of oats. 



The condition of the potato crop varies, and is defective in some 

 cases, although on the whole the reports are satisfactory. 



Austria. — The Statistische Nachrichten of the 28th June gives the 

 conditions of the crops as follows: — Wheat, 1*9; rye, 2*2; barley, 2"6; 

 oats, 2'8; potatoes, 2'3 (i=very good; 2 = above average; 3 = average; 

 4 = under average). The condition of wheat has not varied from that 

 of the previous month, although in many places great damage was 

 done by hail, and in others rust is reported. The rye has developed 

 well, although this crop has also suffered from the stormy weather. 

 Barley and oats are backward, especially in the higher lands. Potatoes 

 are generally healthy, and in the south are already in blossom; in the 

 Carpathian districts, however, the crop has suffered from drought. 



According to the Report for 31st May, the young hop plants were 

 doing very well and had a fresh, healthy appearance. In Siidsteiermark 

 and in the hop districts of Bohemia the plants were being trained on the 

 wires. As regards fruit, the Statistiche Nachrichten for June 14th states 

 that the cold rainy weather experienced in the first half of May had an 

 unfavourable influence on the fruit crop. The condition of the apple- j 

 trees, however, points to a good crop. The crop of cherries in South 

 Tyrol, Dalmatia, and the coast lands will probably be inferior to that 

 of previous years. ! 



Hungary.— According to the Report issued by the Hungarian Minis- j 

 try of Agriculture in the middle of June, the acreage and yield of the 

 principal crops are estimated as follows, as compared with the acreage 

 and yield at a similar period last vear : — 



