THE GRAIN STATISTICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6861, 3 July 1909, Page 3

THE GRAIN STATISTICS

GRATIFYING INCREASES. The grain and crop statistics' issued by the Department of Agriculture show very gratifying increases all round, though the acreage and yield of grain, as w r ell as of ryegrass and potatoes, while exhibiting a good advance on the previous three seasons, still fall short of the banner year of 1898-9. The most striking feature is the great increase in the wheat yield over the previous season, the yield being 8,772,790 bushels, against 5,567,139 bushels in the 1907-8 season, an increase of no less than 3,205,G51 bushels. Thus, of course, falls ,far short of that of the record season of 1898-9, when the yield was 13,073,416 bushels. The next season, 1899-0, the yield fell away to 8,581,898 bushels, declining to 4,046,589 in 1901-2, but reaching 9,123,673 in 1904-5, whence it steadily declined to last year's figures 5,567,139. It is gratifying to know that with the past season's good recovery there has been an excellent market abroad, which has taken the surplus at very remunerative prices, and has left the farmer splendid returns on his home markets. The following figures show the yields of the past two seasons and the record season of 1898-9:

WELLINGTON'S POSITION. While splendid increases are recorded by Canterbury and Otago in grain, Wellington shows the largest percentage of

increase in the country, and easily- leads the North Island for cereal production. Take wheat, oats, and barley:—

Of the Wellington figures Rangitikei easily leads in wheat production, being responsible for nearly half the total, having produoed 100,386 bushels, the Waira'rapa coming next with 33,501. In oats Wairarapa leads with 239,854 bushels, Kairango, Manawatu, and Horowhenua coming next with 227,857, and Rangitikei third with 167,505. Kairanga, Manawatu, and Horowhenua are the principal producers of barley, being responsible for 50,848 bushels, Hutt, Jlakara, and Featherston coming next with 13,308. In other crops Wellington shows a decided increase over the figures of last year under each heading, except maize, where ~the production is declared to be nil, but the area given is for ' threshing only, and a good quantity, we know, has been grown for feeding green to dairy stock, as in Taranaki, where the returns are nil, though there has been an enormous inorease in the amount of maize cultivated for soiling purposes, i ollowing are the Wellington figures :

SHIRE STALLION CATTLEGATE COMBINATION 21254. First and Reserve Champion at the London Shire Horse Show, 1909, ' The Property of Lord Rothsohild, Tring Parkj Trine, Herts.

1898-9. 1907-8. 1908-9. Bushels. Bushels. Bushels. Wheat ... 13,073,416 5,567,139 8,772,790 Oats 16,511,388 13,021,861 18,906,788 Barley ... , 1,677,908 1,163,406 1,938,452 Rye 65,999 • 70,702 91,156 Maize 813,379 503,301 713,838 Peaa . .. 178,420 242,245 299,162 Beans 96,574 43,923 52,116 K y egrass 1,657,482 1,160,413 1,630,615 lbs. lbs. lbs. Cocksfoot 6,943,039 4,147,902 4,721,159 Tons. Tons. Tons. Potatoes.. 298,561 142,999 195,206

Wellington: 1908-9 1907-8 Wheat. Oats. Bushels. Bushels. ... 210,541 795,619 96,348 589,167 Barley. Bushels. 83,619 25,860 1908-9 1907-8 Canter-bury: ... 6,534,371 7,530,740 ... 3,950,813 5,774,746 786;874 460,694 1908-9 1907-8 ' Otago: ... 1,783,097 9,716,628 ... 1,399,184 7,942,509 216,190 121,312

1908-9. 1907-8. ' Bushels. Bushels Maize — 3,783 Peas ... 24,160 16,752 Beans ...•■ 17,756 12,735 Kyegrass ... ... 84,552 30,50-i i s lbs. lbs. Cocksfoot ... 152,900 '• 125,280 Tons. Tons. Potatoes ... ... 15,030 11,080