592 Agricultural Conditions on October ist [oct., 



The Crop Reporters of the Board, in reporting on the state of the 

 crops and the agricultural conditions on October ist, generally refer 

 to the very fine weather which prevailed dur- 

 Report on Agri- m S the P ast mon th, enabling the corn harvest, 

 cultural Conditions which had been g re atly hampered by adverse 

 on October 1st. conditions at the end of August, to be rapidly 



completed under very favourable circum- 

 stances. In the south and east the crops had very generally been 

 secured by the third week of September, and even in the south of 

 Scotland comparatively little was outstanding by the end of the month. 

 Generally speaking, all three cereals were got in at about the same 

 time, there being a difference of very few days only as between wheat, 

 barley, and oats. 



Potato disease, which was noticed as being prevalent last month, 

 is now reported to be both more widely distributed and more intense. 

 As before, it is worse in the south-east, but the north and west, where 

 comparatively little had appeared a month ago, have now considerable 

 areas affected, and mention is made of attacks in certain counties in 

 Scotland. Potato-lifting was generally in progress, in England, by 

 the end of the month. The crop is much better in the north than in 

 the south ; and, upon balance, the prospect for the whole country is 

 for a yield per acre just about equal to the average of the past ten 

 years. 



Turnips and swedes have not fully maintained their promise of a 

 month ago ; a good many reporters speak of improvement, but most 

 mention a want of rain. There is not very much variation in the 

 prospects of these roots as between different parts of the country. 

 Mangolds have declined very slightly, but their prospects are not 

 materially different from those on September ist. Representing a 

 ten-years' average by 100, the appearance of the roots on October ist 

 indicates yields per acre for Great Britain which may be represented 

 by the following percentages: — Turnips and swedes, 104; mangolds, 

 103. 



The prolonged fine weather allowed farmers to proceed with 

 autumn cultivation without delay, and good progress had, in the south, 

 been made by the end of the month. In the east considerable areas 

 had already been sown with wheat, and elsewhere a beginning had 

 in many cases been made. In many places, however, throughout 

 England and Scotland, complaints were frequent that the land was 

 too hard for working. In the north and Wales little or nothing had 

 Been done towards autumn cultivation. 



"Seeds" are generally a full and vigorous plant and look well, 

 with the exception of a few districts, where they are reported to be 

 " patchy." 



Pastures may on the whole be regarded as affording plenty of 

 keep, but the prolonged absence of rain was affecting them; in some 

 districts, more especially in the north and west, they were going oft". 

 Live stock are practically everywhere reported to have done well, 

 owing to the more, congenial weather of the month. 



The supply of labour is reported to have been sufficient for all 

 requirements. 



