Reports on Foreign Crops. 



105 



on the loth of May, 1897, the state of winter wheat was 

 reported to be good or very good in 37 departments, passable 

 or fairly good in 45, and indifferent in 4 departments. 

 Spring wheat is only cultivated in 5 1 departments. Of these 

 28 were reported as good or very good. 



Rye was reported to be good or very good in 43 

 departments, and passable or fairly good in 40. 



With regard to oats, 48 departments showed a record of 

 good or very good, in 25 departments the state of the crop 

 was considered to be fair, and in two departments 

 indifferent or bad. 



The condition of barley was estimated to be good or very 

 good in 42 departments, passable or fairly good in 20 and 

 indifferent in one. In 10 departments the barley was not 

 up at the time of making the estimate. 



In the case of potatoes, the condition of the crop was re- 

 ported to be good or very good in 20 departments, and fairly 

 good or passable in 17; but in 49 departments, the haulms 

 were not up on the loth May. 



Crops in Germany. 



The Prussian official returns of the condition of the 

 crops state that the temperature during the middle of May 

 had fallen very low", and that this, combined with almost 

 unceasing rain, had acted unfavourably on the crops, the 

 condition of which was hardly as satisfactory as in April. 

 Night frosts had occurred, the damage fiom which could not 

 as yet be ascertained, although it appeared to be, generally 

 speaking, but slight. Complaints were received from many 

 localities as to insects, especially wireworms. 



Autumn wheat had resisted the unfavourable climatic 

 conditions best ; its general condition may be described as 

 average to good. Rye had been a good deal laid by the 

 rain, while snow had in many cases broken the stems ; it 

 promised only an average crop. Spring sowing was not yet 

 finished, oats being especially late. What was sown, 

 however, had sprouted well, but there were large quantities 



