WAIKATO v. WEST COAST BEEF.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VII, Issue 1305, 12 May 1886, Page 2

WAIKATO v. WEST COAST BEEF.

Fbw questions are more often debated among farmers and graziers than the prospects of a rise of prices in the spring for fat stock. This, of course, largely depends on the area under turnips in Waikato, and to some extent also on the oat crop which provide straw for feeding along with the turnips. Statistics have lately appeared in the Gazette from which this information can be to some extent derived; but no estimate is given of the probable Crop per acre, and besides both rape and turnips are " lumped " tinder one heading, which to some extent impairs the value of the returns. There are only four Counties on the West Coast and in the north of this island which show more than 1000 acres of turnips and rape. We propose to confine our attention to these four, and compare Waikato and Piako with Hawera and Patea counties as follows :—: —

At first sight, judging simply by these returns, it would appear as though the beaf producing capabilities of the Waikato were superior to those of this district • but we are satisfied that taking the climate, the rela-

tive fertility, and superior grass growing capabilities, the reverse is really the case. In. proof of this, we find that the average production of oats in Piako County is estimated at about 26 bushels, and in Waikato County at 28 bushels, whereas in Hawera County it is calculated at 34 bushels, and in Patea County at 33 bushels per acre, showing a much greater fertility per acre on this coast ; to set against which there is the larger area under oats and turnips in the Waikato district. There is one other feature in these returnswhicb. requires to be taken into account. In Waikato district there were over 7,000 acres returned as in fallow, and in this district over 3,200 acres were thus scheduled. Anyone conversant with grazing districts knows that the bulk of this fallow land represents turnip failures. From reports of the large area of turnip failure in Waikato this spring, we should be inclined to believe that the area under turnips is below the average, and below what is required for the winter in Waikato It is roughly calculated that one acre ot a good j crop of turnips will feed three head of bullocks for three months. Taking an average crop, probably two head of bullocks per acre for three months is about tbe usual thing. At this rate, the Hawera and Patea counties could turn off 12,000 head of fat stock, and, allowing for the relative inferiority of tbe Waikato land, it would probably do about the same. It may, however, fairly be assumed that fully half tbe turnips in each district will be consumed by sheep, in whicb. case, our calculation would lead us to expect an output of 6000 head of turnip — fed cattle from this district, and a like number from Waikato district during tbe next three winter months. We hold that the extra quantity of hay and straw in the Waikato does not counterbalance tbe inferiority of winter grass as compared with that on this coast. It may not be out of place to refer to the enormous increase of area under artificial grasses in Hawera County, which now stands at 74,698 acres ; whereas six years ago hardly 1000 acres could have been thus returned. No less than 18,799 acres of this land has been ploughed during the term.

County, Vaikato . . . Oats. 1058 1610 MtKr.,/89. Tulips Hay. or Bape. 1049 3920 957 4292 Total ... 2668 2006 8212 [awera ... 'atea Total.:. 757 577 1334 715 3786 343 2243 1058 6029