AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 7925, 30 July 1886, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

The most striking feature, of the agricultural - statistics for the year ending March last is’the great falling off which is shown in the production of grain; In wheat there is a decrease of 96,152 acres, as compared with the previous year, and an estimated decrease in yield of 2,624,492 bushels. Having regard to the price of this cereal now ruling in the local markets, farmers, no doubt, regret their want of enterprise in not sowing a large acreage last year ; but there is the obvious and. slightly comforting reflection that, had. production not have gone down, the price would not have goneup, or at lEast not in the same degree. It is another illustration of the mistake so often made in farming of going too suddenly in any one direction.' This year there seems to be a general consensus of opinion that in Canterbury, if not in other districts, the acreage will; be extended by fully : one-third. In oats there is an estimated decrease in yield of 3,756,749 bushels. It is extremely probable that oats will* be worth money before the year is out. Considerable, quantities will be. used for feeding sheep this • winter, this course being in many cases unavoidable owing to the scarcity of feed; there will also be a large demand for seed in the spring, and in'addition to this the renewal of activity in cultivation which seems to be taking place all over the country, will involve an increased demand for horse feed. It would appear that agriculture, with the exception of sheep, breeding, has been resting; on its: oars: pretty much daring the last year, but there can be no questioh' that with regard to the land , under plough next year’s statistics will tell a different tale. There has been a substantial increase of land laid down to grass for the year, amounting to upwards of 200,000 acres, of which Otago contributes a larger share.tban any other district. It is somewhat surprising to. find a considerable falling off in the land sown to tin nips and rajie. We should have

' thought that in view of the greatly : increased number .of,. sheep r i bred,, year, additional efforts -would ; haver™' been made to; provide- food for them during the winter months. .But our farmers j, are not always models of consistency in! their '-i proceedings.. ;The. season/of. .course, toJdf-..[. heavily against the turnip crop,, but there ” , is a reduced acreage as . well as a lighter crop.; The wonder is, after such a summer, ! to findso many fat sheep in .the country, and it is fhuch to be, feared that many stock- ~ owners are putting their ewe flocks on short commpns in order to keep their wethers in,. 1 ,, condition, in .the hope of • haying someV thing saleable at a good price. Bye. grass and cocksfoot seed show' up prominently in the - returnsbut there is a conspicuous deficiency in the •total yield of the former as compared with last year. In glancing down the columns of the statistics the paucity of the returns for the rest of the Colony in comparison with. Canterbury and Otago; ie- . striking., The North Island -is. supposed to be a country with a . grand future, hut whatever it may be- - come in the long run, from an agricultural' point of view, it • takes a very insignificant < place at, present rin comparison, with the southern districts. The North-Island ,is great in surface-sown pasture, which, however, is a very primitive form of agriculture. ■