AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1947, 18 June 1891, Page 11

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

The agricultural statistics, the compilation of whioh was delayed by taking the census, reveal a startling falling off in the grain yield. The unfavourable weather seriously* affected the crop 3in the south, but allowing for that the decrease is far beyond what was expected. Mr Brown, the Registrar-general, thinks the loss to the colony cannot be less than half a million. The following is a summary : —

Yield. In 1890. Acres. Buahela. Bushels. In fallow ... 210 509 — — In wheat ... 301,460 5.723,610 8,448,806 In oati for fodder 203,694 — — \

In oati for grain ... 348.234 9,947.036 13,673,584 In barley ... 32,740 768,833 1,312,823

Potatoes— 32,69l acres, 178,121 tons; against 159.729. Turnips or rape— 4o2,lß4 acres. Other 0r0p5— 25,775 acres. Total under crop -1,354.768 acres. In hay— 44,015 acres, 63,050 tons ; against 65,474 tons. Grass land, after ploughing— 3.lso 513 acres. Grata land, not p10ughed— 2,715,675 acres. In garden— 9Blo acres. Orchard! — 17.046 acres. Total holdiags- 38,082 acres.

The Registrar-general appends the following remarks : — Compared with last year, there is a large decrease in the holdings in Otago and Canterbury, and a considerable increase in Wellington and Hawke's Bay. The area under wheat in March last was less by 34,301 acres than in 1890, but the area under oats was greater by 2546 acres, with this difference, however, that 1h > area under oats for grain was less than in 1890 by 79,847 acres. The decrease of land under grain crops and the increase under turnips and green crops indicate the substitution to some extent of pastoral farming for grain cultivation. The area under turnips and rape was greater in 1891 by 49,181 acres, and that under grass land ploughed by 22,631.