RETROSPECT

Otago Witness, Issue 1832, 31 December 1886, Page 30

RETROSPECT

OF AGRICULTURAL & PASTORAL AFFAIRS

IN 1886.

The most prominent feature in New Zealand agricultural and pastoral affairs at the comnflsneement of the" year 1886 was that while all descriptions of produce were greatly depreciated in market value a drought prolonged through several months had been experienced, and which prevailed till near the close of January. The outcry for rain was universal ; the grain crops were stunted and languishing, the turnips, after repeated sowings, a partial failure, and the pastures unusually bare. There were no expectations of an approach to an average yield per acre of wheat, oats, or barley, and the disposition to reduce the numbers of live stock on farms and stations was general because of the threatened scarcity of winter food. The rainfall at .the end of January and at intervals throughout February, although slight, did an immensity of good, and especially in Otago. The grain crops filled in the ear far beyond expectations ; the turnip crop was reinvigorated ; and the pastures improved so rapidly that the fears entertained of a shortage of winter food for stock greatly abated. As usual in many districts threshing was proceeded with immediately after ' harvest. The proceeds, from' the wheat crop proved on the whole satisfactory, but the yields of oats and barley were deficient, and this was more especially noticeable in the early crops, the later having been greatly improved by the February showers. The -subjoined table shows the actual results of the harvest of 1888, and a comparison with those of the three previous years : — WHEAT. t

Thus it will be perceived that while the average yield per acre of wheat in 1886 was only 1/25 bushel below that of the previous year, the average of oats was 931 bushels, and of barley 444 bushels per acre below the yield in 1886. The results of the collection of the agricultural statistics when gazetted showed that, compared with the returns for 1885, there would be in 1886 a deficiency in the yield of wheat amounting to 2,624,492 bushels; oats, 3,756,747 bushels; and barley, 309-090 bushels. Unfortunately the agricultural statistics are not published until months after they could possibly be of any use to the majority of farmers. However, even previous to harvest it was widely known that there would be a material diminution in grain .productions, and the probable values of grain become a much debated question. Writing on the subject in an article in these columns on the 30th January, we remarked that many farmers " cannot afford to hold grain, but must, perforce, sell to meet engagements immediately after harvest, and therefore, unless speculators operate extensively, the markets will probably be glutted for a time, aud prices moderate. . . . The perfectly safe inference here, howe.vßr— with the knowledge that the Australian returns vriH &•

blbit a serious faUing off— is that later m tho cereal season of 1886 better prices will be obtaiued." This view of the question has been satisfactorily borne out by subsequent events, as even the new wheat placed on the "hiarket towards the end of March met ready sale at an advance onprices which ruled previously. The following table shows the average range of market quotations for produce during each quarter of 1886 compared with t v ose for the corresponding periods in 1885;" and the figures show that with the exception of bwrley, potatoes, and bacon, ruling prices during the year have been eminently satisfactory to producers. It will be observed, however, that the pronounced advance in the values of wheat and oats did not take place till June. In April the market showed signs of weakness, but any downward tendency was checked by the refusal of growerß to accept any reduction on prices previously ourreut. It was known that the South Australian average for wheat was only three bushels per acre, while New South Wales and Queensland would require te purchase all or nearly all for their wants. In May prices hardened, and by the middle of June it became apparent that New Zealand must contribute largely to Australian markets. Hence the rise in values of wheat and oats, and which has been well (sustained to the close of the year. DUNEDIN PRODUCE M&RKBT3-1885 and 1886.

It will be perceived from the above that on the whole farmers have been better remunerated for their productions during 1886 than in the two years preceding. It is to be regretted, hjwever, that the table is incomplete, inasmuch as we are unable to supply local market quotations for beef and mutton. Until a little over a year ago, Dunedin agents in their weekly reports quoted the price realised for beef per 1001b ani for mutton per lb, but for some inscrutable reason they now omit to do so, and vendors and the public are alike kept in the dark in regard to the values of the articles in the wholesale market. In the Home meat markets quotations are regularly furnished ; farmers watch these closely, so that they may take advantage of favourable opportunities for marketing stock, and consumers know something of the profits made by middlemen; here only agents and butchers are in the secret. During the greater portion of the year the local values of beef and mutton were on a par with those ruling in 1885; lately, however", the former has improved in value, while much 6i the latter has been sold at only a shade over value for boiling down. The fall in the price of frozen mutton in • .the Home markets has led to this state of affairs, as shippers, after paying for freezing freights and charges, have no margin left. It is towards the reduction of these items that flockowners must direct their energies, for the prospect of any appreciable improvement in prices on the British markets appears to be' remote. Commenting on the frozen-meat trade the European Mail observes ; " Cheap good meat is the order of the new regime of our colonial meat supply, and no good can ever come out of a temporary inflation of prices, unless to a few selfish individuals, and even then they would be so far only killing the goose that lays the golden egg. No, no, prices of New Zealand meat must be low, and must be maintained low too, and every effort must be made to develop the trade to those gigantic dimensions which would render it a really national matter, and one not to be con•idered simply as in any sense a clobo commercial borough." The experience of transactions during the year drawing to aclose.as well asof the preceding one, has phown that the profits of the .kaxjebave been abswlwd bj* "'oWre ttmnawfai

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Year. 1886 1885 1884 1883 Acres. Bushels. ■ 162,273 3,963,266 251,411 6,454.168 347,334 ' 9,145,083 359,546 9,512,983 per Acre. 24-42 25-6r. 26-33 26-46 1886 1885 1884 1883 1886 1885 1884 1883 OATS. 310,246 8,086,103 330,898 11,704,935 246.008 8,730,739 298,269 9,995,384 BARLEY. 32,801 846,336 35,565 1,136,071 30,795 * 889,186 26,448 691.805 26 06 35-37 3550 33-51 25-80 30-24 28-87 28-27