Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1942, Blaðsíða 119

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN FINLAND 107
loss. Some of the grain dropped during harvesting because the
corn ripened unevenly and the difficult labour situation delayed
the reaping.
Furthermore the frosts in September damaged the potatoes
and the green crops considerably, especially in the low cultivation
areas in north and west Finland; in many parts of the country
the potatoes stopped growing.
There was very little rain in the first half of the growing
season, i. e. in early and full summer, — the rainfall over wide
areas of west Finland was inconsiderable — and it was already
then clear that there was small chance of a good harvest. To
sum up, the labour difficulties were considerable and the factors
affecting the amount and quality of the crops were unfavourable
during the harvesting time, so Finland’s yield was on the whole
poor in the war year 1941. The following table shows the com-
parison between the most important cultivation plants in that
and previous years:
Million kg
Winter whcat 1931—35 1935—39 1940 1941
33,2 50,6 29,2 22,1
Spring wheat 35,3 140,3 149,5 128,0
Rye 352,3 352,6 209,9 236,0
Barley 179,5 184,6 138,8 128,0
Feas and beans 17,5 18,6 15,4 15,9
Oats 672,0 724,5 504,8 486,0
Mixed grain 23,7 19,7 12,6 9,1
Potatoes 1130,3 1323,3 1234,1 731,0
Field hay 3011,5 3520,4 1709,4 1940,0
The yield of wheat, barley, oats and mixed grain in 1941
was smaller than in 1940, whereas the contrary was the case in
regard to rye. According to the revised estimates the cereal crop
proved to be somewhat smaller than that showed by the figures
above.
The smallness of the potato crop was due to the drought and
the stoppage of growth by the frost. The hay crop certainly was
13 per cent. higher than in 1940, but nevertheless 44 per cent.
lower than the average during the five-year-period 1933—39.
A greater part than ever of the oats and potato crops must
be reserved for human consumption and therefore the fodder
situation will be particularly difficult as long as the cattle must
remain in the stalls. This is true especially in regard to those