I9U.] 



Crop Conditions on May ist. 



i75 



dition on May ist is given as 86' 1 against 82*1 on May ist, 1910, 

 83*5 on the same date in 1909, and 86" 1 the mean of the averages of 

 the past ten years. Indications point to a yield of i5'6 bushels per 

 acre, and a crop about 5*4 per cent, larger than last year. 



The average condition of winter rye on May ist is given as 90*0, 

 the condition on corresponding dates in 1910 and 1909 being 9i'3 and 

 88' 1 respectively. (Dombusch, May 8th, 191 1.) 



Hungary. — The Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, reporting on 

 the condition of the crops on April 25th, states that the warm windy 

 weather in the latter part of April caused dryness of the soil, which 

 was unfavourable to the development of the autumn and spring-sown 

 cereals. A mild rain is needed. 



The Crop Reporters of the Board, in reporting on agricultural 

 conditions on May ist, state that the very cold and mostly dry weather 

 of the first part of the month checked vegeta- 

 Crop Conditions tion generally, but that the rains and more 

 on May 1st. seasonable temperature at the end of the 



period induced considerable improvement in 

 the prospects. No damage to the corn crops from the severe weather 

 at the beginning of the month is reported ; but, as a result, the season 

 may be regarded as being somewhat late on May ist. Wheat is 

 looking healthy, though backward in many districts ; th t sown earliest 

 in the autumn, of course, presents the more satisfactory appearance. 

 Much the same may be said of barley and oats, both of which are 

 looking well, except that poor reports are received concerning oats in 

 Kent. Sowing is, in both cases, practically finished over the greater 

 part of England, but a good deal had still to be done in the north ; in 

 Scotland work was very forward. Beans are healthy and vigorous, 

 and promise well, although, like the other crops, they are backward 

 in many districts. Peas seem, as a rule, fairly satisfactory. 



The season for planting potatoes has proved very favourable nearly 

 everywhere (except in the extreme south-east), and the seed has gone 

 into the ground under good conditions. The work is well forward in 

 all the important potato districts ; practically completed in some. From 

 Lincoln comes a report that, owing to the high prices, the area under 

 this crop is this year being increased. The early crop in Cornwall is 

 reported to have been severely damaged by frost. 



Sowing of mangolds was generally in full swing and being carried 

 out under good conditions, although in many places the weather had 

 not proved suitable till towards the end of the month, so that in such 

 districts this operation was somewhat behindhand. 



There is generally abundance of blossom on all kinds of fruit trees. 

 The more noteworthy exceptions are Norfolk, where the cold winds 

 have kept back the orchards arid bush fruits, parts of Lincoln, where 

 gooseberries have been badly damaged, and Kent and Surrey, where 

 early gooseberries have been injured. Elsewhere the severe frosts at 

 the beginning of the month appear to have come too early to effect any 

 material injury. 



" Seeds " are generally healthy, the rain at the end of the month 

 having been of great benefit, although more is still required. There 



