904 



Notes on Crop Prospects Abroad. 



[FEB., 



refer to about 89 per cent, of the total reported wheat area of India.) 

 The areas sown to rye are, for Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland, 

 ioo ; Spain, 90; France, 96; Luxemburg, 102; and United States, 101. 

 The areas sown to barley are :— Belgium, 107; Spain, 90; France, 114; 

 Luxemburg, 112; and Switzerland, 100; and to oats, Spain, 105; 

 France, 107. 



The weather during the sowing season was generally favourable; 

 germination was uniform, and a good plant was obtained. The wet 

 and mild weather during December provoked too rapid a growth 

 in France, and weeds were becoming troublesome, whilst in Ireland 

 some resowing may be necessary on account of flooding in some 

 iow-lying areas. 



Bulletin of Agricultural Statistics, Supplement, January, 1912. — 

 The production of wheat in Argentina in 1911-12 is estimated to be 

 21,315,000 qr., as against 17,035,000 qr. in 1910-11, or an excess of 

 25' 1 per cent. The production of oats is estimated to be 6,238,000 qr., 

 as compared with 3,741,000 qr. last year, or an increase of 667 per 

 cent. The production of maize is estimated at 32,142,000 qr., as 

 against 3,214,000 qr. last year, when a large part of the area had 

 to be abandoned. 



New Zealand. — The production of wheat in 1911-12 is estimated to 

 be 811,000 qr., as compared with 1,034,000 qr. in 1910-11, or a decrease 

 of 2i'6 per cent.; and the production of oats, 1,917,000 qr., as against 

 1,261,000 qr. in 1910-11, an increase of 52 per cent. 



The total production of wheat in Argentina, Chili, Australia, and 

 New Zealand is estimated to be 36,363,000 qr. in 1911-12, as compared 

 with 34,467,000 qr. in 1910-11, or an increase of 5*5 per cent. 



Russia. — H.M. Ambassador at St. Petersburg transmits a report 

 on the condition of the young crops in December, 191 1. The informa- 

 tion refers to 78 of the 91 governments of the Empire, and comprises 

 European Russia, Poland, the Caucasus, Western Siberia, the Steppes, 

 and Turkestan. In the remaining governments practically no crops 

 have yet been sown, or the information was too scanty for use. The 

 condition of the young crops was "entirely favourable." In the great 

 majority of the governments (65 out of 78) the condition was "above 

 satisfactory." In nine governments it was "satisfactory," and only in 

 four governments "unsatisfactory." The absence of snow and frost 

 in many governments causes fear for the well-being of the crops, as 

 they may suffer from wet and cold. Little change has taken place 

 as compared with their condition a month ago. 



United States. — The weather is seasonable. The Government report 

 on the condition of the winter wheat on February 1st states that the 

 fields are mostly protected by snow, and there has been very little 

 alternate freezing and thawing. (Beerbohm's Evening Corn Trade 

 List, February 9th, 19T2.) 



Production of Cider and Perry in France. — According to the report 

 of the French Ministry of Agriculture, the production of cider and 

 perry in France during 191 1 is estimated at 481,766,000 gallons, as 

 compared with 237,485,000 gallons in 1910. {Journal Officiel, January 

 T2th, 1912.) 



