CROPS AND STOCK.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 50, 28 February 1907, Page 7

CROPS AND STOCK.

THE DEPARTMENTAL RETURNS. INTERESTING FIGDEES. EFFECT OF THE DROUGHT. Comprehensive returns have just been issued by the Agricultural Department ihowing the area, under crop, grasses, etc., at 30th April last, as well as a return giving th.B number of horse*, cattle, sheep, and swine in the colony at the same date. 'Owing to the prevalence of drought in Canterbury and Otago considerable areas of both wheat and oats have been either fed off or are not worth cutting, therefore a deduction: in tho figures shown in the attached tables must now be reckoned upon. It is estimated that in Canterbury 2000 acres of wheat tad 6000 acres of oats have been so dealt with. In Otago a. much larger area is affected, the estimate being 3000 acres of wheat and 15,000 acr«a of oatl. Turnips and rape have also suffered, and at least 20,000 acres in each district of the former, and 5000 acres in Canterbury and 1500 acres in Otago of tho latter, must be deducted. Endeavours are' being made to obtain further particulars of the losses, aud the information' will be made known when the actual yields are published later in the year. WHEAT. The following shows the area under wheat — (1) for threehing, and (2) for chaffing, ensilage, and feeding down for the present and the previous season: — Threshing. Chaffing, etc. 1906-7 ... 211,185 acres 805 acres 1906-6 ... 222,965 acres 606 acres 11,780 decrease 299 increase OATS. Threshing. Chaffing, etc. ISO 6-7 ... 372,929 acres 260,250 acres 1805-6 ... 360,569 acres 238,687 acres Increase 12,360 acres 21,663 acres BARLEY. Threshing. Feeding down. 1306-7 ... 33,305 acres 3,383 acres .1905-6 ... 29,644 acres 3,270 acres Increase 3,661 acres 113 acres A GENERAL SUMMARY. Tho return giveu below shows tho areas lander corn aud green crops and grasses for the years 1905-6 and 1906-7. In one case the increases are given, and in the -other decreases: —

In the Wellington district, which embrace* all counties from Waitolara to Mauricevillfr, tho area* under crop were v follow:— Wheat: For thrwihing. 5206 acres ; for feeding down, 23 acrei. Oats : For threshing, 22,550 acres ; for dialling, etc., 17,850 acres Barley: For threshing, U6S acre* ; for entiUge, etc., 60 acres. Bye : For threshing, 91 acres ; for ensilage, *♦■/•_ 12 aeroi.

The following t»blo gives the numbei f utock in the oolony for the yctxt 19C5-< id 1906-7:— Hor»e3. Cattle. igfl6-7 343,059 1,851,750 1805-6 326,866 1,810,936 Incre»«9 „. 16,093 40,814 Swine. Sheep. 1906-7 242,273 20,108,471 190W ».. ... 2*9,727 19,130,875 I~**~* v. " 7.« i 877^96

STOCK.

ueCrop. 1905-6. 1906-7. crease. Acres. Acres Acres. Wheat ... 223,571 212,090 11,481 Ryo ... 2,923 2,668 255 Maize ... 13,110 10,729 2,381 Peas ... 13,652 11,905 1,749 Be*ns ... 2,066 1,996 70 Other corn crops ... 448 178 270 Mangolds 7,090 6,571 519 Beet ... 277 196 81 Carrots ... 1,971 1,830 91 Native gnsses, elo. 22,944,831 22,922,047 22,784 Fallow iand 54,030 52,119 1,961 Plantations 61,479 57,079 4,400 Private gardens 14,843 14,330 513 Market

increases.

Decreases.

±nCrop. 1805-6. Acres. )at» .. 593,256 Jarley ... 32,91* fetches cr tares ... 143 ineecd ... 1,010 lops ... 1,008 >ot&toes ... 26,834 ["urnipi ... 469,579 lape „. 131,742 Jthei green crops ... 7,790 Sown grassesLand ploughed 4,779,734 Land not ploughed 7,745,727 )rchardg ... 26,760 fineyarda 550 1906-7. crease. Acres Acres. 653,279 54,023 36,688 3,774 158 15 1,094 84 1,011 3 31,289 4,455 514,341 44,762 137,364 5,622 8,702 912 4,815,157 35,423 7,903,374 157,547 27,515 755 65* 104