VICTORIAN CEREALS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 167, 8 April 1908, Page 2

VICTORIAN CEREALS.

. "V; A SHORTAGE. Tho-Victorian statist's return of the oat ' crop of 1907-8 states tlio .actual - yield at s,2ol,4oßbushels, which-is 1,726,402" bushels -less . than his 'pre-harvest' estimate. 'The large difference between the two returns, is due to the fact. that the proportion of the 1 crop cut for grain this, year was less usual, "the area actually, harvested for grain being 395,749 acres',' and that out for hay . 460;192 ac'res.7,, Tho crop of 1907-8, as offi-' • (Cially'.Tpturned,' compares with that of; pre-; viotisseasons' as follows :— , ' * ' i Year Ended ■ Yield; J . March, ■: Acres. . 1903 4,402,952 - , 1904 .... ... - ... .13,43-1,952 ' -j 1905' ;i.r: ... ....' 6.203,429 < : 1906 ... 7,232,425 • 1907 ..; . ... .... 8,845,654.' : 1903 5,201,408 The return of the barley harvest has also beeii' issued .by tbe statist,, and,. sh'ows ; a' yield of 747,315 bags malting quality,'against ! ■ 674,043 in. 1906-.7, tho. area under; malting ' being 41,940 acres; against 30.052 acres; aim ■ . the \avornge yield per. acre 17.52 Bushels. \ against 22.43 bushels.,' The yield, of "other'' V barley shows, a large decrease, anil is" stated at 311,950 bushels,, against 581.399. bushels in 1906, the. area being 21,131 acres tgainst 22,764 acres, and the average per acre 14.76 bushels against 25.54 bushels. 'The: yields compare with those of recent previous seasons as follow: — : , ;

Year, ■■■ ■ Ended Malting .Other ■■ Malting Other March , Acres. Acres. Bushels. Bushels. 1903 26,436 11.2S0 391,877 106,267 1904 ...... 33,5S6, 14,174 878,721 .'.339,252 . 1905 ...... 30,799 15,290 575.505 298,594 1906 ■ . 26,279 14,059 615,456 . 416,683 . 1907 ...... 30,052 22,7G1' 674,043 f 531,399 1908 ....... 41.940 21,134 747,315 : 311,980 •