Sept. 1895.] 



REPORTS ON FOREIGN CROPS. 



159 



The prospects for rye had somewhat improved during the month, 

 while wheat had rather fallen off. 



In many cases, particularly in the eastern districts, the rye 

 was badly developed. Harvest had begun : the number of 

 sheaves was generally smaller than in 1894, as the rye was 

 thinner, owing to its not having wintered very well ; neverthe- 

 less it was hoped that the grain would thresh out better this 

 3*ear. Here and there complaints Avere made as to rust. 



The want of suflficient rainfall had seriously hindered the 

 spring cereals. Fields and districts where sowing had been 

 late and the soil was light had particularly suffered, the copious 

 rains having brought relief only in exceptional cases. 



In North and Central Germany barley had stood the drought 

 better than any other crop, owing doubtless to its deeper 

 cultivation. Oats, on the contrary, had everywhere dete- 

 riorated, and would by no means give the high ^ield of 1894 ; 

 weeds formed a common subject of complaint. 



Potatoes had developed satisfactorily, and a good harvest was 

 confidently calculated on in South Germany. In the north and 

 centre, in spite of the dry weather, there was abundance of 

 leaf ; but ram was then urgently needed to swell the tubers. 



Clover and lucerne almost everywhere gave an unusually 

 high yield at the first cut, whereas the second cut, with few 

 exceptions, was much below expectations. 



Only in South Germany and in some parts of the north-west 

 was the root crop satisfactory. 



Haymaking was over, and the hay had almost everywhere 

 been got in under good conditions. The yield of meadow hay, 

 as regards both quantity and quality, had not been exceeded for 

 very many years, but the outlook for the aftermath was very 

 poor. 



The condition of all the crops in the middle of July was 

 statistically estimated by the Imperial Statistical Office as 

 follows (where 1 represents the expectation of a very good 

 harvest, 2 good, 3 average, 4 poor, 5 very bad) : — 



Winter wheat, 2 • 5 ; spring wheat, 2 • 7 ; spelt, 2 • 5 ; w^inter 

 rye, 3 ; spi-ing rye, 2*6; barley, 26; oats, 2*8; potatoes, 2*4; 

 clover and lucerne, 2*5; meadow hay, 2 * 3. 



The condition of the crops was very much better in the south- 

 west than in the north-east, the worst outlook being in Prussia 

 proper. Nearly all crops were expected to give good yields in 

 Alsace-Lorraine. 



Crops in Italy. 



The Gazzetta Ujfflciale of July 29th, 1894, contained the usual 

 report of the Ministry of Agriculture at Rome on the condition 

 of the crops in Italy. As regards wheat, the harvest was 

 reported to be generally good and abundant. Maize promised 



