AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7693, 19 July 1886, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Some time ago we published the agricultural returns for a few of the counties in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and since then the returns for the several counties in the other parts of this province have been appearing in the Government Gazttte. They have at last all appeared, and we now publish in & tabulated form the returns for the whole of our provincial district. This year they are later than usual. Perhaps the delay is on account of the additional work thrown on the department by the census of the whole colony being collected at the same time. Be this as it may, the information respecting oar agricultural operations is later in being made available this year by at least four or five weeks than last year. And now that the returns are to hand, it will be seen that while the population in the city and suburbs of Auckland has been increasing at a rapid rate, the extension of rural settlement has been fairly satisfactory. A very substantial increase in the number of separate holdings has been made, and the area of land in general cultivation has been largely extended, though in several instances a curtailment has been the case. In former years we have drawn attention to the careless and slip shod manner in which the agricultural returns are collected. Though there are great improvements this season as compared with some previous years, it is but too evident that in many districts the gathering of the information known as the agricultural statistics is carried on in a very perfunctory manner. A careful and painstaking superintendent collector in a district can do a great deal to ensure accuracy, but unless the individual collectors discharge their duties in a faithful manner, it is in vain to expect results which are at all satisfactory, or which will compensate the county for the expense which it incurs in this work. For instance, the aggregate of land in cultivation in the Uokianga county is shown to be less by 85 acres as compared with the returns of 18S5. This cannot be true, as during last year a large number of additional settlers have gone to that district. Indeed, the number of holdings is shown to have increased from a total of 31 in 1885 to 49 this year, and yet, in the face of this fact, it would appear that the area of cultivated land had decreased instead of increased. So with the Bay of Islands county. The returns there show a small decrease of 16 acres, while the number of holdings of one acreand upwardsin extent have increased from 155 to 188 during the year. The Whakatane county shows an apparent decrease of no lets than 4441 acres, a result which cannot be, as it is impossible that grassed land can thus disappear in such a mysterious manner. It is evident, we think, that where these discrepancies occur, there is either an error in this year's returns, or one in those of the previous year. Kawhia county is made to show less cultivation by 100 acres, the islands in the Hauraki Gulf 835 acres, and Waipa county a decrease of no less than 15,391 acres. Tho holdings in the Waipa county are apparently fewer by 25 than in 1885. We do not know whether this is a fact, or whether it is only one of those fanciful variations of which wo have frequently complained. Waipa county appears to be particularly unfortunate in this respoct. if the prosperity of the settlers in this county depended upon the published annual returns, it would possess an elemeut of uncertainty which would puzzle the most experienced calculator of averages. Last year its cultivated area was made suddenly to jump from 50,149 acres in 1884 to 79,764 acres, an apparent increase of 23,615 acres. This was progress with a vengeance ; and in noticing this circumstance at the time, we stated: The county of Waipa is made to show a rate of increase which wo fear is quite illusionary." The result of this year shows how little reliance is to be placed upou these returns, for instead of showing the district keeping its own with other districts, a decrease of 15,391 acres of its cultivated area is returned. We neither believe the returns for this year nor last, so far as this county is concerned, and think it is time our members in Parliament took some action to see that these vagaries should cease. That the cultivated area of any Waikato county, which includes the land laid down to permanent pasture, should increase in one year from 56,149 acres to 79,764 acres, and next year to decrease aijain by 15,391 acres, is a statement which no one acquainted with the district referred to will credit. Without a close approximation to accuracy, these returns are of no value whatever, and any calculations for commercial purposes based upon tables of inaccuracies can only lead to , unsatisfactory results. In nearly all the districts, both to the north and south of Auckland, there are evidence of steady prosperity. The total number of holdings have increased from

6518 in 1885 to 7636 this year, the total number in the oolony being 31,763. Auckland has thus almost one-fourth of the whole of the holdings in the colony. The year 1885 showed the small increase of 127 as compared with the previous year, while during last year the increase in the number of rural holdings in Auckland was no fewer than 1116. This is cheering, and shows that, while the city and suburbs are expanding rapidly, the filling up of our country districts is not being neglected. Of this number of holdings freehold tenure is the prevailing one, there being 5674 of this class out of 7636, the whole number. It would seem, however, that the number of rented holdings is increasing, for, while the total number of holdings increased 1116, those of a freehold tenure only increased 477. But, while it is satisfactory to notice acts accomplished in the work of reclaiming the land to a state of productiveness, it is also pleasant to aoe that preparations for further conquest are in progress. In 1885 the area of land broken up, but not under crop, was returned as 15,955 acres, while this year the area in a similar condition is more than doubled, the acreage being 33,808. The roturns of 1885 in this respect exceeded those of 18S4 by 1767 acres, but this year's returns exceed those of 1885 by no less than 17.553 acres. The total area of cultivated land is set down at 767,714 acres, as compared with 699,104 acres in 18S5. The returns of 1884 showed an increase of 44,239 acres over the previous year, and this year's returns show an increase of 68,610 acres over those of 1885. This iB satisfactory, and, as the greater portion of this area is permanent grass, it represents a large addition to the permanent wealth of this portion of the colony. But tho figures given hardly state the whole truth. On examining the Go vernment returns we find that the areas in garden, orchard, and permanent forest plantation aro not included under the heading of cultivated land, though a considerable amount of cultivation is required to bring either garden, orchard, or plantation into a thrifty state. Whatever might be said about adding forest plantations to the area of cultivated land, there can be no objection to adding the area devoted to garden and orchard purposes. By adding the area of our gardens and orchards to our cultivated land, we find the total amount is 774,762 acres, an average of between five and six acres to each European inhabitant in the province. The low prices which have prevailed for wheat during the last few years is having a marked effect upon the area of land devoted to this crop In ISB3 the Auckland district grew 10.537 acres of wheat. In 18S4 the area decreased to 9122 acres. This in 1885 still further decreased to 6749 acres, and this year hardly the half of that has been cultivated, or 3209 acres. In other words, the extent of land devoted to wheat cultivation decreased from 10,837 acres in 1883 to 3209 acres in ISS6. This is a serious decrease, and should form a topic for discussion by the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, if that society takes any interest

in matters agricultural beyond the holding of an annual exhibition of farm stock, &c. That the decrease in the extent of wheat cultivation is not due to a deficiency of crop is manifest from the average yields reported. In 1883 the average yield in the Auckland provincial district was 22.48 bushels per acre ; in 1884, 25.54 bushels ; in 1885, 23 33 bushels ; and this year, in round numbers, 27 bushels per acre. We have here the two strange facts brought in vivid contrast, a decreased area and a largely increased average yield. The estimated number of bushels this year is 86,641 against 157,460 bushels in 1885, which year, however, showed a decrease of 75,575 as compared with the previous year. With a rapidly increasing population, we ought to be increasing year by year our food supplies, and this can only be done by the adoption of a methodical manner of cropping in place of the haphazard style at present in vogue. In oats and barley Auckland farmers do comparatively little. The potato crop was a comparative failure. Four thousand four hundred and six acres were cultivated this year in place of 4621 acres in 1885. and the crops were 16,208 tons and 24,548 tons respectively. The long spoil of dry weather early in the season no doubt seriously affected the potato crop in this part of the colony, while it benefited the wheat crop. The average yield this year is 67 tons per acre, as compared with 5.31 tons in 1885, and 4.65 tons in 1884. To the cultivation of root crops, for winter feed for stock, a yearly increasing attention is heing paid. There are now no fewer than 14,940 acres thus utilised. The crops which come under this head are turnips, mangels, beets, &c. In what may be called minor cultivations an increasing interest is being manifested. There are now 4864 acres devoted to permanent forest cultivations in this province ; 198!) acres used as gardens ; 28 acres upon which hops are cultivated, the chief centre being the county of Rodney ; and 18 acres upon which the tobacco is cultivsted. In regard to orchards, we find that 5059 acres are now devoted to the culture of fruit trees of various kinds. No indication is given respecting the class of fruit trees cultivated, but the largest area in any one county is in Manukaa, where 870 acres are so occupied. Rodney comes next with 610 acres, and is followed by Waitemats with 607 acres. The area of land devoted to fruit culture in the county of Manukau is only exceeded by one county in the whole colony, that of Waimea, Nelson. In that county the area occupied with orchards is 893 acres, which exceeds Manukau's showing by 23 acres. In the colony 12,479 acres are devoted to orchard purposes ; and, as Auckland settlers have already 5059 of these, it does not require a prophet to foretell where the future New Zealand orchards will be found, unless our legislators kill the industry by undue maternal interference by legislative enactments. Subjoined is the tabular statement by counties, contrasted with the corresponding figures for the previous year :—

Extent In 0 [ Plantations J a , Injiay. In after sown v? - " Acres pl «-"• '"5"" & | uch total's! Acres. ' A ' d (bushels), tons up). bushels).] j "j (in For - - Districts Provincial for [ 7! 146* 100 43 1 37 7 1 Holdings. Acres. { 42 115 3,830 8,044 18 Mangouni 100 43 151 71 37 7 4 3 13 22 1 .. Ho'imt!*, 114 1140 4 8,044 3,706 Mangouui 31 1,731 .......... 4 3 1 1 .. Ho»i.nw, 90 133 13 158 3 Bay 2 31 *■ . 25 747 95 9 135 14,819 Bay 90 i islands, 6 22 1 1,048 25 747 95 41 173 ... Island-, Bay 157 219 22, _ gsrei, 201 525 8 247 1 1,048 3 72 3 .... 157 3,104 _ c.rei 7 1 6 202 ... .. ' 6 ' 3 .. 55 41 3 24,407 ..... Rodney! 7 330 6 9 7 .. iSSG Hobson " 269 33 9 7,472 _ Rodney " 3 414 24,407 1 7 Rodney! 32 646 27 4 61 338 .. 37 9 9 _ .. 46 19 486 30 1835 'i 27 4 34 1,040 2,560 2,' 1 46 19 9 . ... 14 7,150 5,553 - Eden' 'i 34 1,777 424 117 1,494 3,756 57,898 207 415 14 Eden' 481 1,095 239 367 177 543 _ 1,941 4,767 40 3 . 7.C97 1,494 5.023 45,312 4,744 1,816 6 '4 3 _. Coromandel, Hanukau! 1,941 4,421 3 1,877 9 293 60 1,456 .. 69 '4 3 2 Cornmandel, 75 215 2, 4 3 .... .. 9 293 57 3 .. Coromandel, 23 1 3 1 1,294 „ .. 75 5 4 9 .... .. 6 464 827 1,327 Thames, 23 167 1 16 „ .. 586 150 3 3 30 637 827 4,704 38 .. 407 1 12 37,062 4,184 586 15,361 8 3 3 30 5 6 3 369 272 Tauraiiea, 20 1 10 4,184 Piako, 12 970 32 40 3 r.miia, 5 6 32 20 41 272 5 I 3 372 12 621 32 3 .. ranl'a, 211 110 5 501 103 1885 „ 102 2,540 7,322 11 3 £28 372 7 171 3 -• .... .. Tsupo, 65 211 103 „ 5 25 3 „ ... Taui.0, 7 171 ... .. Tsupo, 150 8 6 .. Taupo, 5 55 3 -- „ ... Taut-o, 115 3 12 .... po, 150 15 8 97 6 .... Taupo, 77 21Cook, 35 115 12 .... po, 3,879 1,521 47 ... 44,365 2,105 ' 5 153 Cook, 28 495 3,1 4 11 124 973 179 279 1,725 2,860 2,620 40 543 11,970 59 „ 28 85 24 1 284 Raglan, 61 12 „ 2,620 279 102 ...... Raglan, 127 31 3 67 1885 K*whi», 61 3 1 ... 100 1 61 1 .... „ 127 187 31 3 „ ,, 160 6 .... Gulf, 100 12,431 7 6 .. 733 246 739 7 1,027 33 4 .... ... 32,985 1,157 4 . 733 21.406 851 341 33 1,921 135 63 3 32 Waikato, 1,033 32,985 29 4 4,447 3,668 48.781 2,997 Waikato, 1886.. ... .. 240 62 63 365 1,636 541 12.991 366 1,244 35,652 135 3,575 861 957 45,446 10,285 306 1 046 39 32 12 6 4,292 122 .. 4 3 110 262 6t,655 1,921 Waikato, 1885 226 46 49 321 566 1,055 24,246 747 1,189 38,303 35 1,120 968 1,276 32,639 9,715 200 1.688 29 62 .. 2,997 .. .. 48.781