258 



Reports on Foreign Crops. 



fairly good, in 1 1 as passable or indifferent. Sugar beet was 

 grown in 40 departments ; in 6 the crop was reported to be 

 very good, in 33 as fairly good or good ; and one depart- 

 ment was stated to have a passable crop. 



Crops in Germany. 



According to the report issued by the Imperial Statistical 

 Bureau at the end of August, the winter rye harvest was 

 then almost over, and the yield of both grain and straw was 

 very satisfactory; the harvesting of winter wheat had com- 

 menced everywhere, and the crop w^as a good one. The 

 report indicated that the condition of winter grains was 

 better than at the corresponding period for the past five 

 years. Spring-sown grains were a little backward, but the 

 favourable weather in August had brought them on well, 

 and the harvest was expected to be generally satisfactory. 

 Barley and oats were especially promising in Bavaria. 



Much disease was reported amongst potatoes, especially 

 on heavy lands, early varieties being particularly affected. 

 The second cut of clover was expected to furnish an over- 

 average yield, and the prospects for rotation grasses were 

 good. 



Crops in Italy. 



According to the reports published in July and August by 

 the Ministry of Agriculture, the wheat crop in Ital}^ will 

 prove to be well up to, if not over, the average. Maize, 

 hemp, buckwheat, and rice were promising, except in some 

 central and southern districts, where the maize crop had 

 suffered severely from drought, and forage crops were doing 

 well. 



A good crop was expected from the vines, but vineyards 

 in Sicily and Sardinia were in want of rain. 



