AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON, JULY 14.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 23

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. WELLINGTON, JULY 14.

The final agricultural statistic*) of this season are gazetted. Mr Ritchie, secretary to the department, says: — The weather during harvest in the North Island, and the northern' portion of the Middle

Island was wet, and consequently a consider- j able quantity of grain was damaged, both in the stook and stacks. In the southern portion of the Middle Island, however, the weather was fine and the crops were saved in good condition. The actual yields of wheat, oats, and barley are considerably over the estimate, as shown by interim returns, the figures being as follows : — • ' "Wheat.— Estimated yield, 27 bushels per , acre; actual yield, 32. 7G bushels. j Oats. — Estimated yield, 35 bushels per acre; i actual yield, 39.56 bushels. '

Barley. — Estimated yield, 28 bus£«?ls pe^ acre; actual yield, 36.73 bushels.

The area under .wheat for threshiug warf 399,034 acres; actual yield, -32.76 busheis per, acre;— total, 13,073,410 bushels. Old wheatf on hand at 15th November, 1898, 1,622,037, bushels; wheat imported from. 15th November, 1898, to 28th February, 1899, nil ; bushels flour imported from 15th November, 1898, to 28th February. 1899, 162 tons, equalling 761^ bushels;— total, 14,703,067 bushels. Wheat exported from 15th November, 1898, to 28tb February, 1899, 22,206 bushels; flour exported from 15th November, 1898, to 28th February, 1899, 51 tons, equalling 2397 bushels; consumption for same period on an. average population of 783,000, at the rate o£ 6 bushels per head per "annum, 1,370,250 bushels;— total, 1,394,853 bushels. Available for all purposes, as from 28th February 1899, 13,308,214 bushels; estimated quantity required for seed (say, 380,000 acres at 2 bushels per acre), 760,000 bushels; consumption for all purposes on a poulation basis of 790,000, at 6 bushels per head per annum, 4,740,000 bushels ; —total, 5,500,000. Apparent surplus, 7,808,214 bushels.

The following figures show how the wheat crop of 1897-98 was disposed of: — Wheat on hand aj 15th February, 1898, 5,620,521 bushels ; wheat importect from 15th February, to 15th November, 17,969 bushels; flour, 417 tons, equalling 19,599 bushels ; —total, 37,568 bushels; less wheat exported for sama period, 9729 bushels; less flour, 397 tons, equalling 'lß,6s9 bushels ; —total, 9180 bushels; — total available, for period 15th February to 15th November, 1898, 5,629,701 bushels. This was dealt with as follows:— Seed "required for 400,389 acres for threshing, chaffing, eusilage,; and feeding down, •at 2- bustiels pei acre, 8t)0,778 bushels; consumption on an average population of 772,000 for period 15th February to 15th November, at 6 bushels per head per annum, 3,474,000 bushels; old wheat on hand at 15th November, 1,622,037 bushels; — total, 5,896,815 bushels; apparent deficiency, 267,114 bushels.

■ In the final return of last year (see New Zealand Gazette of 26th July, 1898) a surplus of 291,119 bushels was shown, but this must be reduced by 100,778 bushels used for seed in excess of that estimated, leaving only 190,341 bushels of a surplus. This shortage may be attributed to eithei of tin following causes: — (1) Owing to tha drought a large area, estimated at 30,000 acres, was deducted from the acreage under wheat for threshing, but it is just possibla that was overestimated; or (2) the consumption may have been less than 6 bushels per head on tho population basis; (a) owing to the high price of bread, or (b) the decreased quantity fuel to pigs and poultiy, the estimate of 6 bushels per head for consumption for all purprobes may be too* liberal an allowance, but it is somewhat difficult to arrive at exact figures. •

Oats.— For threshing there were 17,320 acres, or an increase of 62,501 acres • over last year. The yield is also very much higher, and as a> considerable proportion of this crop is grown, •in the south of the Middle Island the quality should be above the average. Barley. — For threshing there were 45,671 acres, or an increase of 15,751 acres: The yield is likewise much higher, but, unfortunately, much of the grain was discoloured owing to' 'the wet. Maize. — There were 18,539 acres, or an increase of 3702 acres over last year. In' the Whakatane and Tauranga counties caterpillars- caused ' considerable damage, estimated' at 8 bushels per acre. Very little 1 threshing' 'has yet' been done; therefore only "the estimate of"the' yield is given.

Peas, beans; tad tar6s:— The acreage • under these varies very little. 1 The yield, however, is higher. - • - Linseed. — There is a very large reduction in. the area, returned — only 469 acres, as against 1017 acres the previous year. With the demand there is for the seed -it is difficult to account for the apathy shown by farmers with regard to this crop.

Kyegrass. — The area under this heading for seed is as follows: — Land ploughed, 63,412 acres; land not ploughed, 2883 acre3 ; —total, 66,295 acres.' At 25.01 , bushels per acre this gives 1,657,482 bushels. Seed on hand at 15th November, 1898, 60,375 bushels; available for disposal, 1898-99, 1,717,857 bushels. Where the crop was saved in good order there should be some very prime samples of seed. Several phenomenal yields are reported from the south. — from -60 to 70 bushels per acre.

Cocksfoot. — The area under this crop is as follows : —Land ploughed, 5390 acres'; land nofc ploughed, 40,885 acres; — total 46,275 acres; at 1501b per acre, 6,943,039 pounds. .Seed on hand at 15th November, 1898, 1,012,4911b; available for disposal, 1898-99, 7,955,5301b.

Potatoes. — The area under this crop is increffsed by 2202 acres, and the"yield is given at 7.73 tons per acre, as against 4.95 tons last year. The tubers are reported to be of good quality. wheat yield in Auckland was 24-9,04& bushels, being an average 'of 20.3 bushels ta the acre; Wellington, 550,411 bushels, average 29.4 ; Canterbury. 3,409,166 bushels, average 33.65 : Otago, 3,329,660 bushels, averag* 33.37. Oats: Wellington, 767,327 bushels, average 33.9; Canterbury, 5,890,132 bushelsaverage 41.2; Otago, 8,774,770 bushels, aver age 39.8. Barley : Canterbury, 675,931 bushels, average 46.2; Otago, 440,191 bushels, average, 31.3. Maisse : Auckland, 765,263 bushels, average 44.6. Potatoes : Auckland, 50,04)1 tonß, an average of 6.1 tons to the acre ; Wellington, 37,227 tons, average 8.0 tons; Canterbury, 106,169 tons, average 8.5 j Otago, 47,919 tons, average 7.1.

About a million feet of timber was si

from Greymoulh a fortnight ago. It is stated that a syndicate for lighting Waihi, Auckland, with electricity is likely to be formed. Mr W. Townson, of Westport, has increase<l his excellent collection of ornithological specimens by the addition of a mature frigate bird, which was secured on the beach in -an exhausted condition, after a recent gale. Tht frigate is an ocean bird of the vulture species, and the specimen now in Mr Townson'a handi ie but the second that has been captured o* the New Zealand coast.