38G 



REPORTS ON FOREIGN CROPS. 



[March 1897. 



The reports from Bombay stated that it seemed unlikely that 

 the area sown would exceed 1-| million acres, being half the 

 average. The rain which fell in November did some good in 

 various places, but it was unequal, and the yield generally was 

 expected to be very low unless good rain should fall, The failure 

 is greatest in the Deccan districts, where the area sown was only 

 a fifth of the average, and where, the rain in November having 

 been light, its beneficial effect was smallest. The Karnatak was 

 somewhat better in condition than the Deccan, the area sown 

 there in British districts being a fourth and in the Native States 

 a third of the average. In Gujrat the area is about 26 per cent, 

 below the average. Sind is better off than any other part of 

 the Presidency, or indeed of the whole country, the area sown 

 there being only 9 per cent, below the average and much in 

 excess of last year's area, but that was not a good year for 

 wheat in Sind, 



Crop Prospects in France. 



A report on the state of the growing crops of wheat and rye 

 in France, at the end of January 1897, was published in the 

 Journal Offtciel on the 2nd February. 



For purposes of comparison, the figure 100 is used to repre- 

 sent the area under the same crop in the preceding year ; and as 

 regards the state of the young crops, 100 implies " very good " ; 

 80, " good " ; 60, " rather good " ; 50, " passable " ; 30, " middling "; 

 20, " bad." 



The following table gives the figures as regards wheat only, 

 and the mean for groups of departments : — 



Divisions. 



Area under 

 Wheat in 1897. 

 Per cent, of 

 1896 Area. 



Condition of 



Crop 

 at the End of 

 January 1897. 



North-west region - 



91 



67 



North region - 



86 



64 



North-east region - 



84 



60 



West region - - - 



91 



72 



Central region - 



83 



59 



Eastern region - 



84 



57 



South-west region - - - - 



70 



57 



South region 



92 



69 



South-east region - - - - 



84 



69 



Corsica - 



85 



50 



_____ 



An analysis of the figures for each department shows that, 

 compared with the previous year, there has been an increase of 

 wheat acreage in two departments only, viz. : — 5 per cent, in 

 Nord ; and 2 per cent, in Morbihan. In nine departments the 

 acreage under wheat is the same as in the previous year, and 



