PASTORAL STATISTICS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 February 1927, Page 14

PASTORAL STATISTICS.

COLLECTION OF RETURNS. Under the Census and Statistics Act every .farmer is required to make a- return' and for this purpose, he is supplied with a form almost as formidable as the income tax sheet. No item is overlooked by a vigilant Government Statistician, ' who demands accurate information concerning everything on the farm, from milking machines to the acreage of barren and unproductive land.

A new item is included in the 1927 return. Farmers are required to furnish facts concerning top-dressing The area so treated during the year ended January 31, 1927, must be -stated, together with the quantity used. Nine short columns are provided, so that the farmer may show the nature of the manure used on each section of his land. The remainder of the form is on similar lines to that of previous years. Schedules are collected by the police. A -start has already been made in the work of gathering in the forms. RED POLLS IN SPAIN. In view of the export of Red Polks to Spain, for the agricultural department of the Spanish Government, it is opportune to mention a communication that has been received from Baron de Abella, writing from Barcelona, who states that he is convinced that Red Polls seem to him to be very suitable breed for crossing with, the cattle from the mountains, in Aragon and Catalonia.

it appears there is a scarcity of catt.e ill Spain, and according to the statement of Baron de Abella and having regard to the nature of the country in which the cattle would be quartered, Red Polls being of a hardy character, look like fully meeting tlie requirements of breeders in that part of the world.