BRITISH FARMING IN 1908.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14981, 29 April 1909, Page 5

BRITISH FARMING IN 1908.

("Mark Lane Express," January, 1909.) The- year that has just closed has been a. very remarkable one for farmers who depend to a larger extent than anybody else in this country upon weather conditions. It must be admitted that the weather during 1908 has been quite of an exceptional character The spring was not remarkable until'the end of April, when a record snowfall was experienced throughout the Midlands and the South of England. Considerable damage was done to vegetation, which fortunately was not very forward, so it was not damaged to the extent that was anticipated, and as'this arctic touch was succeeded by springlike conditions, the vegetable world made rapid progress, and crops flourished accordingly. > i The late spring or early summer was of a most favourable character, but only those who were very early with their harvest were able to say that they secured their crops in good condition, as the second half of August, together with the month of September, which is the usual harvest period in England, was noticeable for broken weather, and as a result the corn crops were much damaged. A good sample of wheat was hard to find, wliilsb barley was stained and weathered, and in many cases had grown out. with the result that samples of malting barley were few and far between. Oats suffered the least, as in many cases they were got in before the broken weather started. ■ As for the last three months in the year it can only be said that the weather was of a remarkably favourable character. The rainfall was not much different from the average, but the absence of frost was very noticeable. To the live stock owner it was a fortunate circumstance, as it will enable him to tide over the winter with a minimum outlay for cakes and meals, in fact it is many years since we have had such a favourable autumn for all kinds of farming work. WHEAT AND FLOUR PRICES. The movements in our corn markets have not been at all favourable to the grower. The long harvest doubtless has bad the effect of depressing values, as much of the corn marketed has been out of condition, and consequently not suitable for the manufacture of that white flour which is so much appreciated nowadays. Twelve months ago farmers were getting 5s a quarter more

for their wheat than at the present time. In January wheat was malfing an average price of 35s 6d per quarter,' but now it is worth no more than 30s 4d, a-drop of 5s 2d in the. twelve months. This decline has been general throughout the year, and tho figures, as will bo seen from the following prices, have not varied to any remarkable extent.

Turning to -tyio prices obtained for flour, wo find that where, as a year ago, a sack of 2801 b was worth 375, now it is only worth 345, and this de-> crease; it. will be noted, is pro rata with the decline in the price of wheat There seems to be a tendency for a recovery of prices, which it is to bo hoped will continue, as owing to the excep-' tionally fine autumn experienced, wheat has been sown on a far larger area than usual. ' , i The table below will show the-fluc-tuations during the year, and will'serve as an excellent guide in 'forming an opinion as to the prices and prospects.

A HEAVY POTATO CROP. The crop of potatoes this year has been a remarkable one. Prices this season have not been high, but tho yield per acre has in lots of cases been enormous, and, thanks to the ideal weather continuing so long, many growers have found tubers the most profitable of all farm crops this year. Whether prices are satisfactory or not, there-are some thousands and thousands of tons of marketable potatoes to come on the market. , According to a preliminary statement issued by the Board of Agriculture, it is s estimated that the total produce for potatoes in Great Britain is 3,919,798 tons, or an average yield of 6.97 tons per acre, as compared with 2,977,485 tons, or an average yield of 5.12 tons per acre last. year. •

The agricultural returns of Great Britain for last year contain come interesting facts. Rotation show large decreases, with the sole exceptions of wheat, which has increased by the small area of 1288 .acres, and. potatoes, which has increased by 13,185 acres. The area under-wheat last year was 1,626,733 acres, and under potatoes 526,105 acres. On the other hand, 1,667,437 acres were devoted to barley, a decrease of- 44,657 acres; the oat» acreage of 3,108,918 was a' decrease from the previous year of 13,980 acres: rye (52,744 acres) was less by 8467 acres; beans (295,012 acros) was less by 14,718 acres; and the turnip area of 1,550,897 acres was less by 12,081 acres. 'The area.devoted to clover and rotation grasses was 4,421,567 acres, which is a decrease of 69,874 acres; while, on the other hand, permanent grass, which extends to nearly 17,500,000 acres, has increased by 137,985 acres'. ... Yield pel

Bar from perm. \ I grass . . . 4.949,879 ,6,214.431 25.11 NUMBERS OF FARM LIVE STOCK. The changes in the numbers of live stock kept on the farm in Great Britain nre verv noticeable. Cattle number 1.905,134, which is a decrease of 6933. There are heavy decreases in the cases of one and two-year-olds, but in the case of cattle under one year there is an increase of 30,717, showing that to . some extent the breeding industry lias revived. . , • Horses show a-substantial decline, as might well have been anticipated -from the increasing use of motors, the number of horses has fallen by 10.698 to 1,545,671. Sheep are returned at 27,030,730, which is ari increase on the year of 924,275, and r>igs at 2,523,482, an increase of 186,716. ',-'." The .official this year and in 1907 are appended, "and are of more t than usual interest: —■ 1908. 1907.. ■ Cattle . . 6,905.134 6.912,067 Horses . . 1,545,871 3.556 ?P!> Sheep ■ . • 27,039,730 2G.115.45-5

1 Flour. London toi . ',.-■" Wheat. price per Per qr. s. d sack of 2831b December, 1907 . 34 8 37 0 January; 1908 . . So 6 37 0 February, lM8 . 30 11 34 n Hard. 190S .' 31 A 31 0 April, 1908 . . . 30 10 34 0 May, 1903 . . . 33 5 35 0 June, 1908 . . . ;:i 5 34 0 July, 1903 .. .' . as 5 33 0 August. 1908 . . . 30 10 3S 0 September,. 1908 . 31 5 83 0 ' October, 1908 . . ao a 33 0 November, 1908 . SO i 34. 0'

Produce. acre. Acres. QrBusried ■Wheat . . 1,626,733 6,565,370 32.29 Barley 1.667.437 6,839,081 32.81 - Onts • . • 3,103,918 15,467,616 ' 39.80 Beans • i, « 295,012 1,105.442 ■ 30.16 Pea? . . ■: 163,751 514,533 28.21 . Tens Tons Potatoes . ■ ■ Turnips and !UTcdes 562,105 3,919,79S i . c ' s " 1.550,897 23,738.207 15.31". • 1 Mangels . 427,772 9,987,161 21.01 Cwt. . Cwfc. Hr.y from clover, c' etc. . . 2,232,353 3,507.468 31.42