394 



Reports on Foreign Crops. 



below the average with 87*5 cwts. this year as against a mean 

 of 94*4 per acre. 



Of clover (with lucerne) and meadow hay an exceptionally 

 high yield is recorded, the former being put at 41 and the latter 

 at 34 cwtz. per acre, or 32 and 25 per cent, above the average 

 preliminary estimates of 31*1 cwts. and 27*2 cwts. per acre 

 respectively. The southern parts of the Empire have been 

 most favoured in this respect ; indeed, meadow-hay in Prussia 

 is a little below the average. 



These preliminary estimates of the yield are not to be taken 

 as indicative of the actual amounts harvested per acre, but 

 are useful as enabling an early comparison to be made, by 

 means of similar estimates with the harvests of previous years.. 

 The final figures for each year are always much lower than the 

 preliminary estimates, for the reason that these latter repre- 

 sent the results of the first threshings, for which the best 

 samples are usuall}^ taken, since they are often required for 

 seed-corn. In the case of cereals, the corrected results are 

 from three to five bushels per acre below those first quoted. 

 The average of the final yields per acre for the four years 

 1893-6 are given as follows, the figures for the grain crops 

 being in bushels : — 



Winter wheat, 22*6 ; spring wheat, 187 ; winter rye, 177 ; 

 spring rye, 12-5 ; spring barley, 24*4; oats, 26*9; potatoes, 

 74 cwts. ; clover (with lucerne), 23*7 cwts. ; and meadow- 

 hay, 24 cwts. 



The newly sown wheat and rye crops are reported to be 

 looking fairly w^ell, although the mark assigned to them is 

 not quite so good as is usually the case at this period of the 

 year. The appearance of clover is rather better than the 

 average. 



Crops in Hungary. 

 The estimated yield of the chief cereals in Hungary in 1897 

 was noted in the last number of the Journal. The Wiener 

 Landwirthschaffliche Zeitnng of the 6th November states that 

 the dry weather in the second half of October enabled cultiva- 

 tion to proceed rapidly, and that autumn work was nearl3r 



