104 



Reports on Foreign Crops. 



area compared with last year was estimated, but with a slight 

 excess over the average. The yield of the irrigated crop was 

 expected to be normal ; but that of the unirrigated crop, 

 covering about 52 per cent, of the area under wheat, was 25 per 

 cent, below the normal. The winter rains having been favour- 

 able in the North- Western Provinces and Oudh, an out-turn of 

 75 to 85 per cent, of a full normal crop was expected if the 

 season continued favourable. In Bengal a yield equivalent 

 to 105 per cent, of a normal crop was anticipated on an area 

 i*3 per cent, greater than last year's and slightly above the 

 average. Owing to deficient rainfall in the Central Provinces 

 the recovery from the contraction of wheat cultivation 

 caused by the late famine had been slow, and with an addition 

 of 200,000 acres there was still a deficiency of 36 per cent- 

 compared with the average cultivation of the preceding ten 

 years. The condition of the crop had deteriorated in the 

 early part of the year, and the out-turn was estimated at 

 about two-thirds of a normal yield. Unfavourable 

 inundation had caused a great falling off in Sind, where the 

 area under wheat was little more than half last year's area, 

 and 40 per cent, below the average. The cultivation in the 

 Deccan and Karnatak districts had not yet recovered from 

 the check caused by the famine, and for the whole of the 

 Bombay Presidency (including Sind ; the area was 9 per cent., 

 less than last year's area and 17 per cent, below the average. 

 The crop suffered from excessive cold in Gujarat, and in 

 parts of the Deccan and Karnatak from deficiency of 

 moisture and cloudy weather, but elsewhere it was fairly 

 good. The area sown in Berar was nearly 18 per cent, 

 greater than in 1897-98, but still very much below the 

 average. Owing to deficient rainfall conditions had not 

 improved, and the yield was expected to be rather less than 

 half a normal crop. The cultivation in the Nizam's Territory 

 was above the average and 9*6 per cent, greater than last 

 year's area. The yield was estimated at 64 per cent, of a 

 normal crop, which is about equal to the average of recent 

 years. According to the final report on the wh^at crop of 

 Bengal, the area in 189S-99 was 1,594,600 acres, against 



