THE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 6

THE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS

The forecast we gave in May last ot tho estimated grain yields in Canterbury for tho late harvest has been looked upon as an optimistic one. Indeed wo were accused of having published tho information with the ulterior motive ot inducing farmers to sell their grain. How far wo were justified in publishing the information may now be seen by comparing the report in question with the return furnished by the Department of Agriculture, showing the actual grain yields as disclosed by an average of threshing tallies in tho various counties. Tho Department's return for Canterbury was published in yesterday's issue, and on comparing it with our figures it will be founa that our forecast was very close to the mark. Where we gave the average for a county it corresponds with tho Department's figures, and in other cases we gave estimates which work out on an average very closely indeed. This applies to the threo classes of grain— wheat, oats, and barley. Our only object was to give the farmers as early as possiblo a fair idea of the stocks or grain likely to be available for the year. We recently drew attention to tho seemingly unnecessary delay in the publication of the harvest returns. This year thero was less excuse for this delay than ever, for the harvest throughout the colony was fully a month earlier than usual. We see no reason why the Department shoufd not publish tho returns as they com© to hand. The results of the North Islano and the greater portion of the South Island harvest, including Canterbury, should be available at least a month or more before the harvest is concluded in -Southland. Canterbury is the principal wheat supplier for the colony, ana the earliest information as to what ■stocks are likely to be available is c*". the utmost importance. Thero is no need therefore to wait for the Southland returns, which almost entirely re-

lato to oats, before the Canterbury wheat returns aro mado kuown. We beliave tho returns aro now compilea with considerable care by the Department, nnd aro perhaps as near the mark as it- is possible to get. A criticism of their figures showing stocks later in the year must take into consideration a number of elements relating to the probable consumption, thai one is apt to Overlook in a mere review of tho figures themselves. Some of theso elements are suggested in an article we publish this morning. Now that the colony is running upon a close margin in its wheat supply the Department's figures have become more valuable, and if they stand tho test this season they will no doubt bo lookea upon with more confidence in the future.