AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 182, 2 August 1900, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

WELLINGTON, July 8,

The following agricultural returns are published in the "Gazette," based on actual yields:—

Wheat: Estimated yield, 27 bushels per acre; actual yield, 31.81 bushels per acre.-

Oats: Estimated yield, 35 bushels per acre; actual yield, 40.99 bushels per acre. Barley: Estimated yield, 28 bushels per acre; actual yield, 33.02 bushels per acre. WHEAT. The area under wheat for .threshing was 269,749 acres, and the actual yield, at 81.81 bushels per acre, was 8,581,898 bushels. The amount of old wheat which should have been on hand according to last year's return was 6,502,493 bushels, and the amount actually returned Is 6,036,373, a delieiency of 1,466,120. Taking the quantity on hand as returned, 5,036,373 bushels, aud adding half of the deficiency as probably on, hnnd, 733,060, there will be 5,769,433 bushels actually on hand. The quantity of T^heat exported since December 1, 1899, to February 28, 1900, was 503,891 bushels; flour, ditto, 63,967. The consumption for the same period on an average population of 797,000, at the rate of six bushels per head per annum, would be 1,179,123, making a total1 of 1,836,981. There was available for all purposes as from February 2S, 1900, a total of 1i.514,350. The estimated quantity required for seed (say 250,000 acres, «t two bushels per acre), would be 500,000 bushels; the consumption for all purposes, on a population of 809,000, at six bushels per bead per annum, would be 4,854,000, a total of 5,354,000, leaving an apparent surplus of 7,160,350. The following figures will show how the wheat crop of 1898-99 was disposed of. In the "New Zealand Gazette" of Julyl4, 1899, the wheat available for all purposes as from February 28, 1899, was stated at 13,308,214 bushels. This has been disposed of a« follows:—For seed, 265,959 acres at two bushels^ per acre, 531,918 bushels; consumption per population of 790,000 at six bushels per head for nine months. 3.555,000 bushels. Wheat and flour exported from February 28, to November 30, 1899, 2,718,803 bushels, making a total of 6,805,721, and leaving on hnnd at November 30, 1899, 6,502,493- bushels. As already shown, there Is a shortage In the returns of 1,466,120 bushels. This Is no doubt accounted for by the fact that a large quantity of wheat was unthreshed at the date of the returns, and therefore only an estimate could be given. Besides, a considerable quantity had been damaged In stool;, aud no doubt a liberal allowance had been made for such. OATS. The area under oats forthreshlng was 398 243 acres, a decrease of 19,077 acres. It Is impossible to>arrive at the quantity of old oats on hand, but from all appearances the market is bare. The demand in South Africa has) afforded an outlet for a large quantity at fairly remunerative prices. BARLEY. There were 48,003 acres of this crop, an Increase of 2332 ncres over last year. MAIZE). This crop showed a decrease of 1110 acres. PEAS, &c. Peas, beans, linseed, hops, and other crops: The acreage is less than last year, but of no great extent. RYE GRASS. The area under this heading1 for seed Is a3 follows:—Laud ploughed, 37,564 acres; land not ploughed, 1979; a total of 39,543 acres. At 2f>.12 bushels per acre, this gives a total yield of 993,184 busels, which, with seed on hand at November 15, 1899, 304,214 bushels, makes a total available for disposal during the year 1890-1900 of 1,297,398 bushels. The acreage for this crop Is less than last year by 26,752 acres. i COCKSFOOT, The area under crop Is as follows:—Land ploughed, 9978 acres; land not ploughed, 44,740; a total of 02,718 acres. At 1651b pep am;, this gives a yield of 9,026,9061b, and with seed on hand nt November 15, 1899, viz., 999,788, makes the total available for disposal during the year 1899-1900 up to 10,u2G,6921b. There is a large increase la acreage under this crop,both In land ploughpa and land uot ploughed, the total Increase being 5.4-43 acres. POTATOES. ' There is a decrease of 1620 acres in this crop, and the yield is less, viz., 6 tons per aero, as against 7.73 tons. SHEEP RETURNS. A return prepared by the Chief Inspector of Stock shows that the approximate number of sheep In the colony on April 30, 1900, was 10,347,346, a decrease of 1160, when compared with the previous year. In • the North Island there Is an Increase over tho previous year's figures of 38,933, but In the South Island there is a decrease of 40,153^ Tho figures for tho various districts on April ;JO, V.IOO, arc as follow:—Auckland, 901,445, a decrease of 22,522; Napier district, 4,012,636, an increase of 70,326; Wellington West Coast district, 4,478,311, a decrease of 8811; Marlborough-Nelson dlstrict,B9s,2l7, an increase of 22,999; Canterbury-Kalkoura district, 4,739,506, a decrease of 67,898; Otago district, 3,720,231, an increase of 4746.