AGRICULTURE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1687, 29 June 1904, Page 61

AGRICULTURE.

THE 1903-4 SEASON.

RAVAGES OF RUST

Complaint Avas recently made by the Executive of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union of the delay cf the Department of Agriculture in issuing tne threshing yields of the colony for tlie 1903-4 season. Inquiries made by a “Mail” reporter from Mr E. B. Burdekm, compiler of agricultural statistics, in reference to the matter show mat the department is not to blame for the delay, which hail been caused solely by farmers failing to send in the returns necessary to enable the statistics to be completed. “We give first of all an estimated yield,” said Mr Burdekiu. “mis was published on February 4th. 'ihon we Avait until the farmers . have threshea, Avnen they fill in their returns, Avhich represent Avkat its produced from good and indifferent areas under cultivation. On these results Ave strike an average. I don’t think we could do it in a fairer way. As soon as Ave get me complete returns tneir publication will be expedited. The figures are noAv in type, and Ave are only aAvaitmg further particulars about the damage caused to the oat yield by rust, and tnese, I hope, will be available in the course of a few days. In any case we are av©ll Avithin the time in the matter of publishing the returns, vrhich last year were not made known until the first Aveek in July.” It is estimated that A 5,000 acres os in the North Island were damaged by rust and unlit for threshing during tn@ 19U3-4 season. Out of 8000 acres for threshing in Hawke’s Bay 4000 acres have been damaged. 'me Manawatu district Avas ve-ry bady affected, for out of 8000 acres of oats alloAved for threshing, one-third of that total Avas damaged* The Wairarapa did not suffer so seriously only 700 awes oiii of 8000 acres avail&bfe for fesi E=£tsa is esisssssi ©£ We® very serious, tßSSsps tne actual figures a?s> not yet to h&nd. The same comes from Auckland, where the ravages of rust damaged 3000 out of 45u0 acres. “Rust,” said Mr Burdokin, “uas been Avorse this year in the North Island than formerly, though in years gone by it has been bad at times. It is difficult to estimate the .actual loss caused to farmers, because a good deal of the affected area, although not fit for tkresmng, Ayas fit for chaffing and feeding stock. The area damaged by rust will, however, not materially affect the yield of oafs of the colony for the 1903-4 season, as the North Island, Avhere rust has been at its Av&rst, is not a grain-gioAving country, being mostly devoted to the dairying and pastoral industries. This may be seen, from tue fact tha' At of 480.Q00 acres of oats under crop ladt season, 430,000 acres are in the South Island, and of this total Southland has 100,000 acres under cuitival ion. The average yield for the season will be about thirty-seven bushels per

' y '-'y :r * '.. ' ’ - X.‘ .1 ‘•v acre, against forty-five bushels for the • previous year, though tuat year there 7:, was a very abundant narvest in the South.** •. ■ ~: - l . The following figures just compiled by r . the officers of the Department of* Agricul- ;' ture are interesting:— k • . AREA IN OCCUPATION. 1903-4. ' 1902-3. \ Acres. Acres. Crops: ... ... 1,493,764 1,504,991 Fallow land ... ... 61,069 44,494 Sown Grasses—* : -Land ploughed ... 4,607,165 4,558,346 V: Land unploughed ... 7,342,006 "7,249,869 Native- grasses ... 22,877,322 22,431,136 Orchards, etc. ... 95,155 98,611 > Total area ... 36,476,481 35,887,447 ; COEN AND PULSE CEOPS. ; - 1903-4. 1902-3. Acres. Acres. Wheat ... ... ... 230,959 195,255 Oats ... 620,798 689,016 Barley ... ' 37,262 30,112 Maize ... ... ... 12,919 13,410 Peas and beans 12,360 11,942 Other crops 4,894 7,350 Totals ... ... 920,192 947,085 GEEEN CEOPS. 1903-4. 1902-3. Acres. Acres. Potatoes ... ~. ... 31,778 31,408 Turnips 408,659 _J)92,830 Mangolds 7,808 8,141 Rape ... 118",662 119,856 Carrots ... ... ... 1,800 1,833 k Beet ... 932 376 Others ... ... ... ~ 3,933 3,462 totals ... 573,572 557,906 ' . STOCK. ;k 1903-4. 1902-3. Horses ... ... 299.182 287,419 * Cattle... 1,593,547 1.46-' 663 Sheep ... -... 18,954,553 20,342,727 ' Swine ... *“• ... 226.591 193,740