191 1.] Notes on Crop Frospects Abroad. 



521 



Potatoes are now expected to yield less than the average, and their 

 prospects are certainly worse than a month ago. Where lifted, the tubers 

 are generally somewhat small : there is hardly any disease, but second 

 growth is very generally reported throughout the country. Reports 

 from Scotland are more favourable than from England. 



Mangolds, like potatoes, have also deteriorated considerably during 

 August, although rain towards the end of the month induced a re- 

 covery. They are, however, better than turnips and swedes, which 

 appear to be quite the worst crop of the year. The rain late in the 

 month made a considerable difference in their case, but still a yield fully 

 10 or 12 per cent, below the average must be looked for. Further good 

 rains are urgently required for all classes of roots. 



Hops are the only crop to show any improvement — although that is 

 only a slight one — during the month. Picking had begun by the date 

 of the reports both in the Kent and Worcester districts. The yield is 

 expected to prove but very little below average. In the south-east it 

 would seem to be fully average, but some poor returns are reported 

 from the western counties. The quality is excellent. 



Apples are upon the whole a fairly good crop, and although much 

 fruit has fallen prematurely, it does not seem to have done so to quite 

 the extent that was apprehended ; but the crop of both plums and pears 

 is expected to be poor. # 



The continued dry weather has everywhere burnt the pastures badly , 

 the late rains effected very considerable improvement, but more moisture 

 is much needed. Live stock have been fairly satisfactory considering 

 these adverse conditions, but it is universally reported that cows are not 

 milking at all well. 



The supply of labour has been generally plentiful, the favourable 

 conditions of the harvest allowing of the use of machinery to the fullest 

 extent. 



Summarising the reports, and representing an average crop by 100, 

 the appearance of the crops on September 1st indicated yields for Great 

 Britain which may be represented by the following percentages : — 

 Wheat, 103; barley, 96; oats, 92; beans, 91; peas, 94; potatoes, 97-, 

 turnips and swedes, 89; mangolds, 94; hops, 99. 



The Bulletin of Agricultural Statistics for August, 191 1, issued by 



the International Institute of Agriculture, gives the following forecast of 



_ T . the present cereal harvest from information re- 



JMotes on 



ceived in time for publication on September 2nd. 



Crop Prospects The countries for which it is poS sible to give 



Abroad. an a pp rox imate estimate of the production are' 



as follows : — In Europe : Prussia, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Great 

 Britain, Hungary (including Croatia and Slavonia), Italy, Luxemburg, 

 Roumania, and Switzerland ; in America : Canada and United States ; 

 in Asia : British India and Japan ; and in Africa, Tunis. 



Wheat.— Considerable modification has been made in the estimates 

 of yield in Hungary and in the United States. Hungary is now 

 expected to yield 23,417,000 qrs., while in the United States the esti- 

 mate has fallen from 87,700,000 qrs. to 83,110,000 qrs. Among coun- 

 tries which have been included this month is Canada, which promises 



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