REPORTS ON FOREIGN: CROPS. iI 

little over 23 bushels in 1897-1898, whilst the yield in New 
Zealand was no less than 33 bushels, in Tasmania 27 bushels, 
in Queensland 13 bushels, and in Victoria 9 bushels per acre 

CROPS IN HUNGARY. 
The Commercial Attaché to H.M. Embassy at Vienna 
- reports that the weather experienced throughout Hungary 
during the spring of this year was of the most changeable 
description ; heat and cold followed each other with remark- 
able rapidity, and frost and violent hail storms were reported 
as late as the middle cf May. Owing to these climatic 
conditions, the crops show somewhat irregular stages of 
development, and it is at present difficult to foretell with any 
degree of certainty what this year’s harvest in Hungary will 
produce. 
From some thousand different reports which reached the 
Ministry of Agriculture at Buda-Pesth up to the end of May 
the generai agricultural outlook is considered to be encourag- 
ing. There is, however, a general complaint as to the con- 
dition of rye, which is said to have greatly suffered from the 
frosts of last month, and further to be in a bad way from the 
presence of blight. 
Wheat in general is reported to promise an average 
harvest, but the spring-sown crop is in many places disap- 
POMC NVecedine 1s Still | proceeding, iny the mountain 
districts. ‘Rye suffered greatly from the cold snaps of 
weather experienced in May, but improvement in its condition 
is now reported. The rye-sown area is smaller than usual 
this year, as, owing to the poor condition of the crop in 
spring, large tracts were ploughed up and utilised for other 
purposes. Barley prospects are described as good medium, 
although the spring-sown crop is said tu have suffered much 
from the late frosts. Oats also suffered from the cold spring, 
but nevertreless promised an excellent yield. Rapeseed is 
not expected to yield a large crop, but the quality of the 
grain is reported to be very fine. Maize is backward and its 
colour is not good. In many districts supplementary sowings 
have been made. Sugar beet is generally reported to be in 
a satisfactory condition. Fruit and garden produce promise 
good yields. 
