THE WORLD'S WHEAT YIELDS

Otago Witness, Issue 1419, 1 February 1879, Page 14

THE WORLD'S WHEAT YIELDS

PER ACRE. (Pacific Rural Press.)

In 1876, according to the report of our Surveyor-General, there -were 2,352,213 acres in wheat, and the yield was 35,385,579 bushels, or an average per acre of 15. 04 bushels. We do not expect any greater average this year. The average yields for the 11 years preceding the drought of 1876-77 were as follows, according to a table lately furnished us by Hon. J. R. Dodge, statistician of the Department of Agriculture. It will be noticed that the year's average is given in connection with an analysis of the rainfall in each year, which shoul(W be taken into consideration :—: — ™

These figures gi yield of 14 bushel named ; the gen wheat-growing St

ive our State an average Is per acre for the years leral average of other tates is 12 bushels per

For five years previous to 1860, according to the reports of the State Agricultural Society, our average of wheat per acre was about 20 bushels. The decrease ■of late years is only what nearly all old \ wheat-growers have observed in their own experience. The country which now seems to enjoy the prestige, which once was ours, is New Zealand, and it is refreshing to see this young wheat region vaunt itself over a producing power which it will certainly lose in time, unless it proves wiser than all its predecessors. According to the returns of the Australian Colonies for the year 1875-6, the average yield of grain per acrg was as follows :—

Taking a wider view, and embracing the wheat-producing countries of the world, so far as returns are accessible, the comparison is as in the following table :—: —

These figures are not particularly pleasant to contemplate, but they are the facts as nearly as can be ascertained. — [Though not pleasant to Californians, they should be very pleasant to New Zealanders.— Ed. O. D. T.]

Countries. Year. Russia .. .. 1372 Norway .. .. 1870 Bavaria .. .. 1803 Wurtfmburg .. 1575 Holland.. .. 1874 Belgium .. .. JSH6 France .. .. 1875 Portugal.. .. 1-65 Austria .. .. 1«75 Hungary.. .. 1872 Greece .. .. 1867 Egypt .. .. 1871 United States .. 1874 Cilfrrnia .. 1876 NewZtaland .. 1876 Wheit. .Bush. 65 22 1 16 3 18 1 28 4 20.3 13 4 89 12 5 B.G :3 2 15 4 12 3 15 0 315 Barley. Bush. 80 30.3 20 I 21.2 41.9 34 9 m in 13 5 13 6 18 8 20.2 20 6 19 5 35.9 Oats. Bußh. 16.6 22.5 29 3 44 4 41.2 23.8 18 6 16.2 16 5 19 0 22 0 16 0 38 0

Colonies. Sew South Wale 3 South Australia IVe-item Australia Sew Zealand „ Wheat. Birley. Bushels. Bushels. .. 14.7 20 5 .. 15 5 22.2 .. 12.0 14.1 .. 1?.O 16 0 .. 16.4 27 8 .. 31.5 35 9 Oats. Bushels, 18.7 21.9 16.7 16 0 25 4 38.0

Harvest Year. Rain before Jan. l3t Rain nfter Jan. Ist Total Rainfall. Average Bushels of Wheat per acre. i I I I I 20 38 16 34 17.66 15 07 11.69 9.71 15 00 13 5 i 14 03 13 92 15.04 1885 66 1M56-67 1867-08 1863 69 18tS9-70 1870-71 187172 1872-73 1873-74 1874 75 1675-76 5.27 18 62 16 34 5.67 6 91 3.8) 20 60 10 22 12 21 9 01 16.03 17.65 16.30 22.50 15.68 12 40 10 30 14.11 7.80 1177 9.34 15.98 22.93 34.92 38 84 21.35 59.31 1410 34.71 18 02 25.93 18.40 26 01