LAND: AND LABOUR IN POLAND. ° 393 

makers have been selling at 1898 prices. Binders and reapers of 
American make are also being introduced, and a fair business 
has been done in this kind of machinery. The manual delivery 
reaper of Russian make is still, however, most in demand. 
[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 2,522, Price 7d.| 

The British Commercial Agent in Russia reports that accor- 
_ ding to official information to 14 Septem- 
Beetroot Crop in 
i ro 
Russia. ber, 1900, the current year’s beetroot crop 
in European Russia is estimated at 
7:495,565 tons, against 7,026,513 tons in 1899, or an expected 
total increase of 6.7 per cent. on last year’s crop. The area 
pianted was 1,320,000 acres as compared with 1,208,000 acres 
in 1899. The quality of the crop in the majority of the districts 
is described as above the average. | 

H.M. Consul-General at Warsaw reports to the Foreign 
Office that land in Poland continued to rise 
aaa in price throughout 1900. The industrial 
_. Foland. crisis and diminished confidence in indus- 
trial investments are stated to be the cause, as those who in 
ordinary circumstances would have invested their money in 
Shares have preferred to buyland. <A further reason for the 
rise is the continued parcelling up of large estates into small 
lots and their subsequent purchase by peasants. 
The scarcity of farm labour, which had been a very serious 
drawback to agriculturists during the last few years, and had 
forced. the latter to replace hand labour by machinery, was 
less felt in Poland in 1900 than for some time past. This 
was. brought about by the great depression in all branches 
-of industry, with the natural consequence that a great number 
of workmen were discharged and resumed agricultural work. 
In :Lithuania the scarcity was, however, as much felt as 
in previous years. Besides the attraction of labourers to 
