WAIKATO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9323, 28 March 1889, Page 5

WAIKATO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

{FROM OUR own correspondent.] Hamilton, Wednesday. This agricultural statistical returns for the Counties of Waipa and Waikato, its far as at present available, fully boar out the forecasts of the relative proportion of this season's crop 3 in comparison with those of the preceding year. This would doubtless appear still more marked were tho returns for the Piako county availablo also. As against 4583 acres of wheat for Waipa and Waikato counties in 18S7-8, 0839 acres, or about half as much land again, was sown in 1888-9, bub the yield does not soem to have shown a proportionate increase, for wo find only 179,532 bushels in tho latter year, as against 133,208 bushels in the preceding one, or a yield this year of only 215 bushels, as against 29 bushels per acre the previous year. In the case of oats tho acreage has nearly doubled, 4,135 acres having been sown for grain in the two counties this year, as against 2*293 in 1887-8, the yield this year being estimated at 130,094 bushels, as against 70,914 bushels in the preceding year. Here the average yield has been maintained. In barley there has been a smaller area sown this season in Waikato, and a larger one in Waipa, but the average is tho same in both acreage and yield, the whole crop being, however, insignificant, showing that barley is little thought of as a crop by Waikato farmers. Nor is this surprising, as the average yield has boon only '23 bushels par acre. The potato crop shows only a slight increase over that of the previous season. In Waikato, 305 acres, with a yield of 1539 tons, as against 289 acres and 1467 tons in 1887-8 ; while Waipa shows 762 acres, with a yield of 3705 tons, as against 722 acres with 3780 tons in the preceding year, a falling off in tho average yield of the crop in Waipa. Land sown to turnips has increased in Waikato County from 2810 acres in 1887-8, to 3510 acres in 1888-9, and in Waipa County from 3637 acres to 4103 acres ; and orchards show an increased acreage in both counties, being 382 acres in Waikato and 499 acres in Waipa. A new column in tho returns of this year is that of dairy cows. Waikato possesses 3008, and Waiya 3373. If we turn to the Raglan County returns they will show an area of wheat increased from S5 acres in ISB7-8 to 185 acres in the present season, and a yield of 4591 bushels, as against 2123 bushels in tho preceding year. Oats have only increased from 132 to 144 acres, and potatoes from 145 acres, with 784 tons, to 163 acres, with a yiold of 938 tons. There is a decreased acreage of turnips, 203 acres being sown this year, as against 218 in 1887-8. Tho number of orchards, too, has decreased from 101 to 99. How, it will be asked, is this thus? Raglan possesses the respectable number of 1193 milch cows.