334 



Agricultural Labour in June. 



[JULY, 



The yield is estimated at 9,557,000 tons, as compared with 7,593,600 tons 

 in 1908-9. 



Transvaal.— The Transvaal Government Gazette of May 6th 

 states that the maize crop of the Transvaal this year is estimated at 

 232,000 tons. The surplus for export will probably be about 53,500 tons. 



United States .—The United States Department of Agriculture esti- 

 mates the average condition of winter wheat on July 1st at 8i"5, com- 

 pared with 8o*o last month, and a ten-year average of 81*3. Spring 

 wheat is put at only 6r6, compared with 92^8 last month, and a ten- 

 year average of 87' 1. Oats have declined in condition from 91*0 last 

 month to 82*2 on July 1st, and a still larger decline is reported for 

 barley, from 89*6 to 737. As regards maize, preliminary returns show 

 the area planted to be about 114,080,000 acres, an increase of 5,310,000 

 acres on last year. The average condition on July 1st was 85*4. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have been furnished by the 

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

 spondents in various districts, on the demand 

 Agricultural Labour for agricu ltural labour in June :- 



in England Agricultural employment was regular until 



during June. towards the end of the month, when rain 



somewhat interrupted the haymaking in a number of districts, and 

 day labourers lost time in consequence. Haymaking, weeding, and 

 hoeing caused a fairly good demand for such men ; the supply however, 

 was usually quite sufficient. 



Northern Counties. — Employment was generally regular in these 

 counties, few reports mentioning any loss of time. Day labourers were 

 in fairly good demand for hoeing and singling the root crops, hay- 

 making, and hoeing corn ; the supply of such men was usually sufficient, 

 but a little scarcity was reported from the Morpeth Union {Northumber- 

 land) and several districts in Yorkshire. 



Midland Counties. — A few day labourers were reported to have lost 

 time through rain in the last week of the month; otherwise employment 

 was regular. Haymaking and hoeing caused a fair demand for day 

 labourers. A scarcity of such men was reported in the Melton Mowbray 

 (Leicestershire) and Daventry (Northamptonshire) Unions ; generally, 

 however, the supply was about equal to the demand. Some scarcity 

 was reported of carters in the Pershore (Worcestershire) Union, of 

 milkers in the Shipston-on-Stour (Worcestershire) Union, and of 

 shepherds in the Bedford (Bedfordshire) Union. 



Eastern Counties. — Employment was regular, except for a little inter- 

 ruption to haymaking at the end of the month. Weeding corn, hay- 

 making, and hoeing roots provided a good, deal of work for day labourers, 

 and in several districts, particularly where there was much weeding and 

 hoeing to be done, there were not enough men for requirements. 



Southern and South-Western Counties. — A little time was lost by 

 day labourers in several districts at the end of the month. When fine, 

 there was generally a fair demand for these men, and all the labour 

 available was employed in many districts ; mention of a scarcity, how- 

 ever, was exceptional in the reports. An insufficient supply of men for 

 permanent situations was reported from the Williton (Somerset) and 

 the Dursley and Thornbury (Gloucestershire) Unions. 



