March 1897.] REPORTS ON FOREIGN CROPS. 



387 



there has been a diminution of from 1 to 5 per cent, in 16 

 departments. The decrease has been from 6 to 10 per cent, in 

 20 departments; from 11 to 20 per cent, in 21 departments; 

 and above 20 per cent, in 18 departments. 



As regards the condition of the crop at the end of January, 

 the index number 100 was applied to two departments; 19 

 departments ranged from 99 to 80 ; 37 departments from 79 to 

 60; 21 departments from 59 to 50; five departments from 49 

 to 30. The crop in the Landes was reported to be " bad." and 

 no report is given as regards two departments. 



The Austrian Harvest of 1896. 



The Ministry of Agriculture at Vienna has recently published 

 estimates of the yield of the principal cereal crops in Austria in 

 1896. The results are embodied in the following table : — 



Crop. 



Area. 



Total 

 Production. 



Yield 

 per Acre, 

 1896. 



Average 



Yield 

 per Acre, 

 1886-95. 





Acres. 



Bushels. 



Bushels. 



Bushels. 



Wheat 



2,614,991 



42,631,014 



16-2 



15-8 



Eye - 



4,535,893 



74,327,368 



16-4 



15-7 



Barley 



2,909,954 



53,107,167 



18-4 



19-3 



Oats - 



4,737,984 



100,973,375 



21-3 



21-7 



Maize ~ 



854,212 



16,909,500 



19-7 



18-9 



The total area under the above-named cereals (15,653,035 acres) 

 represents a decrease of 72,690 acres, or 0*46 per cent., as 

 compared with 1895. The decrease in the wheat area since the 

 same year is given as 0*5 per cent., in barley 1*3 per cent., in 

 oats 1*6 per cent., in maize 0*57 per cent., while rye has been 

 augmented by 1"35 per cent. 



The total production of both wheat and rye appears to have 

 been greater than in 1895 ; while the other three cereals gave a 

 smaller amount, although the yield per acre from maize was 

 rather greater. None of the cereals, however, yielded more than 

 the average of the ten years 1886-95, and maize alone was 

 equal to it. 



Taking all five crops together, the total produce from a 

 slightly smaller acreage than last year represents a yield some- 

 what below the average. The quality of the grain does not 

 appear to have been good, the average weight of a bushel being 

 below the average for the four chief cereals, and only in the 

 case of maize was the weight a normal one. 



It may be noted that, if expressed in weight, the yield of 

 wheat per acre is just about the average, instead of being higher 

 as is indicated from a statement of the quantity in bushels. 



O 95711. 



C 



