AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL STATISTICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11398, 15 April 1899, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL STATISTICS.

(Fnoii Ot/r Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, April 14.

The Department of Agriculture has completed'the live stock statistics of the colony from the returns furnished on the 15th November last. These will be published in the Gazette in a day or two. The number of horses in the colony^ in November is shown at 258,649, an increase of 5422 over 1897. There was an increase of all classes except entires, which show a reduction of 143, and of mares, with foals at foot or to foal this season, which were less by 598. In 1896 the number of horses in the colony was 250,247; in 1897, 253,227; and' in 1898, 258,649.

The number of cattle shows a decrease of 6141, tlie figures for 1898 being 1,203,024 against 1,209,165 in the previous year, and 1,139,067 in 1896. There is an increase in every Jlass except breeding cows and heifers, of which there were 1525 fewer, and steers and heifers under ■ two years 30,842 less. There is an appreciable increase in the number of dairy cattle. There. ■were last year 371,185 of such stock againsf 360,593 )ti 1897, an increase of 10,592. The distribution of the dairy cattle shows that there, are 233,520 in the North Island and 135,665 in the South Island. Taranaki owns 81,031 dairy cattle; Otago, 74,687; Auckland, 74,474; and Wellington 64,622. The greatest number of cattle is to be found in Auckland province, where there were 323,264; Wellington standing next with 238,483, . and Tavanaki comes next with 202,481.

The number of pigs in tlie colony in November last was 193,512, against 186,02? in 1897, and 209,834 in 1896. The' distribution shows that there are 126,346 pigs •in the North Island, and 67,166 in ths South Island.

The sheep returns are for the close of April last year, and have already, been made public'

(Pee United Peess Association.)

WELLINGTON, April 14.

Further agricultural returns are published in the Gazette. The area in wheat returned for threshing is 399.034 acres, showing an increase of 83,233. The quantity- of grain now on hand is 1,622,037 bushels. The area in oats is 417,320 acres, an increase of 62,501. The quantity on hand is 1,111,752. The area for chaffing, ensilage, and feeding down is 214,608 acres, a- decrease of 10,162. The area in barley is 45,671 acres, an increase of 15,751. The quantity on hand is 118,718 bushels. There is a slight decrease in the ar«a under rye, pens, beans, and linseed, and increases in maize of 3662 acres, and hops of 102 acres. The area in grasses, clovers, etc., shows a decrease of 104,425 acres, but surface sown grasses, ryegrass on ploughed land, etc., an increase of 482,615 acres. The area in potatoes is 38,604 acres, an increase of 2202 /acres; turnips 416,024 acres, an in-

crease of 22,573 acres; rape 103,921 acres, an increase of 26,790 acres; mangolds 8069 acres, a decrease of 1284 acres.

The number oMiorses is given at 258,649, an increase of 5422; cattle 1,203,024, a decrease of 6141; swine 193.512, an increase of 7485; sheep 19,673,925, a, decrease of 14,229.

The returns for Canterbury and Otago are: —

Canterbury—Area in wheat, 249,852 acres; quantity on hand, 1,028,254bu5he1s ; in oats, 142,748 acres; and on hand, 146,035 bushels; barley, 14.600 acres; on hand, 45,757 bushels." ' • '

Otago—Area in wheat, 99,752 acres; on hand, 454.656 bushels; in oats, 220,427 acres; on hand, 891,172 bushels; in barley, 14,063 acres; on hand, 66,681 bushels.

In the stock returns the principal figures are: —r

Horses: Auckland, 68,549; Wellington, 39,896; ' Canterbury, 45,621; Otago, 53,759. Cattle: Auckland, 323,264; Taranaki. 202,481; Wellington; 238,483 ; Otago, 159.249; Hawke's Bay, 95,283; Canterbury, 87,471. Pigs: Auckland, 61,293. Sheep: Auckland, 2,015,142; Hawke's Bay, 3,308,748; Wellington, 4,054,075; Canterbury, 4,072,687; Otago, 3,951,459.