BEKES

megye (county), southeastern Hungary, occupying 2,175 square miles (5,632 square km) of agricultural flatland on the Great Hungarian Plain. It has hot summers, severe winters, light rainfall, and a sparse natural vegetation. In the northern part of the megye, broad areas along the Krs and Beretty rivers are irrigated. In addition to cereals, specialty crops of poppy seeds and sour cherries are produced. Cattle, pigs, and poultry are raised. Bkscsaba (q.v.), the megye seat, is a market centre. At Gyula, meat (notably sausage), vegetable, and dairy products are packaged. In the vicinity of Oroshza are several government experimental farms, where hybrid cereal strains have been tested and produced. Bks megye is known in Hungarian history as "stormy corner" because of continual agitation by its peasants for land reforms. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 411,959.