234 Variation in the Price and Supply of Wheat. 
costs little labour in the culture <and less trouble in theharvestino; and dressing; ; 
it in this resjx^ct suits tlie habits of an indolent race, while the oveater risk 
involved in its piodnctiou (the crops bein^r slow in ripeninsi; and the harvest 
late) is not much regarded by an improvident peojjlc. Such wheat as the 
country produces is s,rown chiefly by the Bulu;arian settlers in the South ; oats 
and barley are ra'sed for the horses, the first for those of Hungarian, and the 
latter for those of the Rounielian breed. 
There are no artificial meadow j;rounds ; luxuriant tracts of verdure mark the 
course of the streams percolating the valleys in every direction. 
It is a singular peculiarity of the Servian people, that, while thus poorly 
squatted on the land, they should attach so much value to it in the shape of 
property. Though more than two-thirds of it are known to be nncnltivated 
there is not a road but is subject to ownership of some sort, and that is not 
more carefully enclosed and fenced off than the most productive fieliis of the 
richest country in Eui'ope. Perhaps more money is s]ient every year in 
litigation about the land than the land itself is worth. This must, I believe, 
be always the cise where people appropriate more of the soil than they can or 
will cultivate, and the evil is here aggravated by deficiency in title. 
The quantity of grain im])orted into Servia, though limited, is, one year 
with anothei', much greater than that which is exported. In the year 1863, 
it is true, a scarcity, superinducing famine prices in the Banat and other 
Austrian provinces, caused a clearance to be made of all the stocks in granary 
here, but tliis can hardly be accepted as a proof of Servia having attained the 
status of a cora-producing country. 
Bosnia. 
Eeport by Mr. Coksul Holmes for 18G4. — I am happy to report that the 
cattle murrain has at last ceased. The loss caiused to tlie province, however, 
will be felt for many years to come. 
During all last year the making of roads was continued, but the works 
were much impeded by the wet imfiivourable weather. In the month of 
February, this year, an immense quantity of rain and snow fell all over Bosnia, 
and the consequent inundations from the rapid rising of some of the large 
rivers have destroyed in many places the roads which had been made. The 
Pasha promises to make great eQbrts this year to complete all the jirincipal 
roads he has undertaken, as he is persuaded that they will prove of the 
greatest important to the future welfare of the province in every respect. 
1S67.— Plum crop abundant, and saved the people from the misery which 
would have resulted from the almost total failure of the hay crop; cereals less 
than an average crop, and prices doubled during the latter lialf of 1867. The 
winter was extremely loti<:, begiiininj early in November and not terminating 
until almost the end of April. In the beginning of April not a blade of grass 
or a leaf was to be seen ; and, as in many ))arts of the country no hay was 
left, the cattle were reduced to eat the hark of trees, and a great mortality 
ensued among them. Many animals that were examined were found to have 
died from having eaten pieces of branches which had pierced tlie intestines. 
The animals which survived were too weak to work. 
The construction of roads has been recommenced with vigour. 
ALBANIA, 1863. — The lateness of the spring rains last j^ear, though 
productive of loss to the general interests of agriculture, contributed to 
the abundance of mulberry foliane and to the succulence of the leaf. The 
silkworm thrives accordingly ; and the breeding process having been finished, 
and the cocoon formed before the sultry weather set in, the gathering 
throughout the counti-y was most successUil. 
This country was last year visited with a drought of unusual duration. The 
