960 



Notes on Agriculture Abroad. 



[FEB, 



business would do well to keep their eyes upon it, as in the future 

 bacon will probably be the second most important export from Siberia, 

 and the United Kingdom will certainly be the chief market. 



Agricultural Machinery in Poland. — The following particulars are 

 taken from a report by H.M. Consul at Warsaw : — - 



In Poland the sale of agricultural machinery is extensive, and 

 promises to increase yearly as the cost of manual labour is enhanced. 

 The cutting up of large estates into small holdings increases the 

 number of cultivating units, and both the Government and agricultural 

 societies are trying to encourage the small farmers and peasants to 

 buy machinery and implements, in order to improve the system of 

 cultivation. Important results have already been obtained in this 

 direction. 



In 19 10, for the first time, steam ploughs were introduced into 

 Poland. Two were brought from the United Kingdom and some from 

 Austria-Hungary, but their future success is a matter of divided opinion, 

 many holding that the majority of the Polish estates are too small, and 

 that farm labour is not dear enough yet to warrant the heavy expenses 

 connected with the purchase and working of these machines. 



The local manufacture of implements and machines is slowly but 

 steadily developing, despite the present tariff facilities offered for the 

 importation of foreign goods in this line. 



Demand for Fertilisers in Poland. — The following information is from 

 the report by H.M. Consul at Warsaw (Mr. C. Clive Bayley) on the 

 trade of Poland and Grodno in 19 10 : — 



The use of fertilisers is becoming much more general in Poland, not 

 only on large estates, but also among farmers, and in some districts 

 among the peasants. The various agricultural societies and peasant 

 associations afford their members facilities for purchasing fertilisers, in 

 order to encourage their use, and the efforts of these associations are 

 meeting with great success. In order to increase the output Of cereals 

 on peasant lands the Russian Government is proposing measures such 

 as the granting of subsidies to agricultural societies, and the sale of 

 fertilisers to the peasants on long terms of credit. The fertilisers most 

 used at present are superphosphates, basic slag, nitrate of soda, sulphate 

 of ammonia, and potassium salts. 



The price of superphosphates, quoted by the Artificial Manure Syn- 

 dicate, per 1 per cent, of soluble phosphoric acid in 100 lb., delivered 

 free at any railway station in Poland, was 2'2Sd. in the spring of 1910, 

 and 2'34<2. in the autumn. As the output of the local works is in- 

 sufficient to meet the demand, large quantities are imported, chiefly 

 from Silesia and Posen. The manufacturers in those districts have 

 adapted themselves to the Polish demands as regards quality, and. 

 being always ready to grant four to six months' credit, can compete 

 successfully with Polish works. The only real condition disadvan- 

 tageous to British firms competing with the local and German firms 

 is the question of greater freight charges. Unless, however, British 

 firms are prepared to extend a similar amount of credit it is not the 

 least use trying to enter the Polish market. 



Basic slag is imported from Germany and Belgium ; the prices oaid 

 during the year were 1*90^. to i'q6d. per 1 per cent, of phosphoric cid 

 soluble in citric acid in 100 lb., delivered free at any station in P .id. 



