OTAGO AGRICULTURAL RETURNS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 281, 17 March 1877, Page 2

OTAGO AGRICULTURAL RETURNS.

(Otago Guavdiau," March 10.)

The agricultural returns for Canterbury were published in our columns some days ago, but the Otago returns are not yet in order, the returns from the principal district, the Waitaki, not being completed. Sufficient data is, however, to hand to form a very good estimate of the probable yield, arid as the returns have been made since the flood, that fact does away with any surmises as to the extent of damage thereby caused. In making our estimate we have taken the returns of last year for Waitaki in the wheat yield, however allowing the average increase of other wheat-grow-ing districts for this year. The figures stand thus: Wheat, 1877, 1,163,744 bushels ; 1876, 950,042 bushels. Oats: 1877, 1,214,475 bushels; 1876, 3,131,326 bushels. Barley: 1877,224,075 bushels ; 1876, 253,691 bushels. Potatoes : 1877- 23,477 tons; 1876, 20,933 tons. From this it will be seen that, notwithstanding the damage done to the crops by the rains and winds, the wheatyield here, as in Canterbury, shows a substantial increase, though oats show a corresponding decrease. Barley, too, shows a falling off, but potatoes, though increased in tons, are much worse in quality. The oats and barley have likewise suffered material damage, so that not only is the quantity of oats and barley diminished, but the quality of all the grain is inferior.