AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 53

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

WELLINGTON, December 15

The collection of agricultural statistics began on the 14xh October and continued until the 10th day of November. The- fol- , lowing is an interim return of the acreage under corn and green crops, and the amount of grain, etc., on hand. The present season has been very unfavourable, consequently the crops are very backward, and the harvest will be much later than usual: —

Wheat. — Area returned for threshing, 1904-5, 257,295 acres; 1903-4, 230,346 acres; — increase, 26,949 acres. Tho areas returned und^r the headings for "chaffing," " ensilage," and " feeding down " are : 19045, 880 acres; 1903-4, 613 acres; — increase, 267 acres. Total increase, 27,216 acres.

Oats. — Area returned for threshing, 19045, 340,426 acres; 1903-4, 409,390 acVes; — decrease, 68,964 acres. The areas returned under the headings for "chaffing," "ensilage," and "feeding down" are: 1904-5, 205,569 acres; 1903-4, 211,408 acres;— decrease, 5529. Total decrease, 74,503 acres.

The following shows the increases and decreases in acreage for the year in respect to the crops dealt with in this return : —

Increases.— Wheat. 27,216 acres; rye, 225; peas, 785; hops, 84; mangolds, 554; turnips, 36,74-2;- rape. 12,322; carrots, 105; other green crops, 2691;— total, 80,704 acre 3. Decreases. — Oats, 74,503 acres; barley, 5888; maize, 1243; beans, 86; vetches, 12; linseed, 270 ; other corn crops, 189 ; potatoes, 5595; beet, 291;— total, 88,078 acres. Net decrease, 7374 acres.

Grain on hand. — Wheat and flour, 2,910,743 bushels;— increase, 665,444 bushels. Oats, 3,110.083 bushels;— decrease : 879,189 bushels. Barley, 276,056 bushels; — decrease, 6961 bushels. Maize, 102,953 bxishels; — decrease, 43,053 bushels.

— ■ Shakespeare is rather more honoured in. Germany than m England. According to the yoar book of the German Shakespeare Society, 977 performances of. hi 3 plays were given in Germany in 1903 by 178 companies.