AGRICULTURE IN VICTORIA.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 805, 30 May 1865, Page 3

AGRICULTURE IN VICTORIA.

[From the Argus, May B.] In the Gazette of Friday, the Begistrar-General has published the Agricultural Statistics for the year ending 31st March, 1865. Though the returns are only approximate, it is not apprehended that on a final review of them the totals will differ materially from those now given, and, at any rate, the figures are sufficiently exact to enable us to form a tolerably correct estimate of our progress in the occupation and cultivation of the land. On the whole, the comparison between the present year and the preceding scarcely leaves a balance in favour of the former. If i we look at the extent of land in occupation, there is reason for congratulation at the evidence which the J figures show of an increased purchasing power on the part of the agricultural community. The amounf of freehold land in 1865 exceeds that of 1864 by nearly half a million of acres, namely, 462,264, while the amount rented from private holders falls I 1 below the previous estimate by 14,056 acres. At the same time, the effective desire I of the people for settlement, and for making use of the advantages afforded them by an area of Grown territory, is measured by comparing the ! number of acres of Crowa lands rented for other than pastoral purposes in the year 1864, namely, 161,338, with the number rented for the current year, namely, 223,535, or 62,197 acres in excess. To sum up, the total area in occupation at the one period was 5,554,531 acres against 6,064,936 daring the other. Oα examination of the various subdivisions into which Mr. Archer has parcelled out his figures, however, the feelings of satisfaction at so favorable a result must be considerably modified. For instance, while the extent of enclosed land has increased by 786,036 acres, the extent of land under tillage,- has been diminished by 31,253. Proportioning the diminution to each description of crop, we find that no less than 22,960 acres have been' withdrawn from the wheat area of the country, wlrile the remainder murt be divided

between oats, barley and maize. In fact, the only increase must be credited to and peas and beans and sorghum, the cultivation of which has apparently absorbed 260 and 1701 additional acres of ground i respectively. Of course the gross produce of each description of crop shows a corresponding falling off, I with the single impoi'tant exception of the return of whfat. Those returns give an increase in the number of bushels for 1865 over 1864 of 521,971, while the produce of oats and the other cereals is less by 835,753, 13,848, and 28,914 bushels respectively. The county which has contributed most to the increased supply of wheat is Talbot, namely, 591,501 bushels, being also the county in which the area under wheat stands largest, namely, 32,836 acres. The county lowest in the scale of cultivation is [ Aaglesey, with 895 acres, though in the amount of [ produce both Evelyn and Mornington are below it, Anglesey claiming 7015 bushels against 3,321 and 6,827 respectively. In the case of green crops, the returns for the year are more favorable, at least as far as toe quantity of land cultivated 'is concerned. The number of acres given to potatoes this year over the last is 3,930, and iv turnipa, mangold wurtzel, carrots, cabbages, and such like, the figures show a small advance. When we come to the quantity of produce, however, the contrast is by no means reassuring. Fewer potatoes are produced by 14,698 tons, and nearly 3000 tons of mangold wurtzel less than in 1864. In the important article of hay there is a falling off 17,754 tons, accompanying j a diminished area of cultivation equal to 10,617 acres. Opposed to this, howeyer, stands an item of 4,739 additional acres given to permanent artificial grasses. Of other crops, tobacco has produced less by 2,701cwt. in 1865 than in 1864, 130 acres of land being withdrawn from plantation. The number of vines exhibits a marked improvement in the prospects of the wine-making industry, the increase being 1,247,728, and the increase in acreage 409. The quantity of wine produced has been 105,203 gallons against 120,894, and of brandy 205 gallons against 10. The Registrar-General, however, reminds us that, with reference to the returns of vines, whilst the acreage and number of vines, in common with the remainder of the statistics, are for the year ending 31st March, 18S5, the quantity of grapes gathered, and of wive and brandy made, are for the previous season, the grape crop coining in too late to admit of its being returned wnen the agricultural statistics are collected.