LAST SEASON'S CROPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1920, Page 7

LAST SEASON'S CROPS.

RESULTS OP THE HARVEST; , LATEST WHEAT 'STATISTICS. Interim returns are published in the Gazette relating to the agricultural and pastoral industries of the Dominion, The Government Statistician explains that complete returns have been received from 111 counties out of the 12!) which comprise tho Dominion, and estimates have been made for the incomplete portions of the remaining 18 counties It is, however, unfortunate that estimates have had to he/made for small portions of two of the most important graingrowing counties—Ashburton and Waimate. The preliminary returns show that "the total area sown in wheat was 141,874 acres, of. which 130,004 acres were threshed. The yield was 4,547,05S bushels. The latter figure compares favorably with the estimates of 4,145,840 bushels by the Minister for Agriculture, hut is less than the forecast of 4,900,000 bushels by the Board of Trade. Following are the interim returns for (he principal cereals, compared with the final returns for the previous harvest: — 1919-20. 1918-19. Bushels. Bushels. Wheat 4,547,980 0,567.629 Oats ti,520.810 0,884^09 Barley 790,101 710,932 Maize 400,711 413,595 The area planted in potatoes was 24,500 acres, compared with 19,110 acres in the previous season. The yield increased from 105,45'3 tons in 1918-19 to 141,774 tons in the last season.