GERMANS' CROP OUTLOOK BAD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 203, 25 August 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

GERMANS' CROP OUTLOOK BAD.

TEUTON ECONOMIC WEEKLY PESSIMISTIC. The future is very says the "Amtliches Aldewirtschaftliches Wochenblatt fur Nordwesdeutschland," the official economic weekly of North-west Germany, in reviewing the. agricultural and cattle breeding sanation. " Hay is plentiful," the weekly says, "but the grain.crop is only promising well where artificial manures are available. The lack of nitrates is sadly discernible, especially as respects the rye crop. Vermin, such as caterp : llars, have (rcated immense havoc to turnips, oats, summer wheat, and fruit trees. Many fields had to be ploughed over again It is difficult to obtain antidotes at even the highest prices, and recent rains also caused a plague of weeds. It is regrettable to see meadows generally empty or populated most sparsely. "Cattle, pigs, and horses fetch fabulous prices if obtainable at all, and inferior Danish cattle are being introduced in many places. The wholesale supply of cattle to munirt'palties, now that private slaughtering is forbidden, constitutes a grave danger, because not only are the number of breeding an : mals greatly diminished, but the lack- of natural manure is soon evident. If this condition continues there soon well be no more cows in calf, the consequences of which will be fatal to the milk, butter, meat, and fat supply. "Cattle, however, are generallv healthy, although complaints of the great mortality of foals are rife. "Trade in the products of the soil is insignificant. Labour is extremely scarce and only prisoners of war are available for farm work. If prisoners are not supplied, which happens frequently, then farm work can only be done in part, and even then under the greatest difficulties."