Sept. 1896.] REPORTS ON FOREIGN CROPS. 147 



The Memorandum states that with the contracted area in 

 every Province where wheat is an important crop, prices have 

 been moving upwards for some months past as the rain held off 

 and prospects became more uncertain. With the inferior results 

 of the harvest ascertained, prices had reached a high level 

 everywhere. With reduced surplus stocks in India, and such a 

 range of prices, there was but little present prospect of any 

 considerable export trade having regard to the demand for 

 Indian consumption and the absence of any special demand 

 from Europe where prices of wheat still ruled low though higher 

 than they were last year. 



Crops in Russia. 



The latest reports received by the Board regarding the con- 

 dition of the crops in Russia relate to the middle of August, 

 when the winter wheat harvest was nearly finished. The 

 crop is reported to have suffered from excessive rains in the 

 black-soil region and in the Volga basin, and although it had 

 improved in the coast regions of the Black Sea and Sea of 

 x\zov, it still left much to be desired. An average crop was ex- 

 pected in the Caucasus and in the Baltic provinces. The 

 reports point generally to an indifferent harvest of winter 

 wheat. 



C As regards spring wheat, there had been an improvement in 

 the central parts of the black-soil zone, as well as in the South 

 and South-west Provinces. The crop was less satisfactory in 

 the Dnieper and Boug districts, whereas more favourable reports 

 had been received from the Crimea. Other parts of the Empire 

 appeared to promise a medium crop. The grain is reported to 

 be of inferior quality. 



Crops in Austria. 



Quoting from the official reports for the middle of July ; 

 issued by the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, the Wiener 

 Landwirthschaftliche Zeitung states that in Austria the rye 

 harvest had been completed in the southern districts, while in 

 Provinces it was in full swing. An average crop was expected 

 with a good yield of straw. 



The wheat harvest was over in many districts, and the yield 

 promised to be more abundant than that of rye, but inferior in 

 quality. The crop was much laid in some localities, and there 

 were frequent complaints of rust ; though this was, as a rule, 

 confined to the stems. 



W T inter barley had been harvested for the most part in good 

 condition, but summer barley and oats were not so satisfactory. 

 Only an average yield of these crops was expected. 



Maize was backward, but it promised to yield an abundant 

 crop. Peas and beans were, as a rule, a very satisfactory crop. 



O 93016. C 



