344 



rOKEIGN OFFICE REPOETS. 



[Dec. 189^. 



EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGxN OFFICE REPORTS. 

 Agriculture in Norway. 



Mr. T. Michell, Her Majesty's Consui-General at Christiania 

 in a report, dated 1 3th September last, on the trade of Norway 

 in 1894, refers to the condition of agriculture in that country, 

 and gives information published on the subject by a local news- 

 paper — the " Afteoposten " — which he states to be a reliable 

 authority. 



It appears that the state of agriculture in Norway for the 

 time being is not very clear. There is every reason to look at 

 the black side of things, for agriculture is in a worse position 

 than it has been for some time past, and the majority of the 

 farmers have, from an economic point of view, undoubtedly lost 

 ground. Taken as a whole they are reported to be at a very 

 low ebb ; not many can be said to be fairly well off, and only 

 extremely few are flourishing. In this dark picture, however, 

 there are said to be many bright spots for encouragement. 

 First and foremost may be mentioned the fact that there are 

 farmers to be found who have not lost ground, but who in spite 

 of all have held their own. Some have even improved their 

 economic condition, despite the fact that they had not any 

 particular advantage over the general run of farmers, having 

 attained this result solely through their own personal industry, 

 attention, and thrift. 



Farmers are advised to work in the direction of improving 

 their live stock, and to devote their attention to the more 

 extensive production of milk-giving fodder. 



According to the Norwegian " Weekly Journal for Farmers,^^ 

 the condition of farmers in the neighbourhood of Lemvig is 

 considered the most satisfactory, since in that district corn- 

 growing has entirely given way to cattle-breeding. 



[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, JS^o, 1,644. Price 6d.] 



Demand for Agricultural Machinery in South 

 Russia. 



In a report on the trade of the district of the Consulate 

 General at Odessa Vice-Consul Captain Murray states that 

 on account of the scarcity and high price of farm labourers 

 the sale of agricultural machines is each j^ear increasing, and in 

 1894 much larger sales of such goods were effected in the 

 Taurida than in foregoing years. The agent of one English 

 and one American firm sold machines to the value of 

 50,000^. in the Taurida in 1894, amongst which were 500 

 binders and 60 pairs of threshing machines and driving 

 engines, and in all over 600 agricultural machines. 



