THE AGRICUTURAL STATISTICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5170, 17 June 1891, Page 4

THE AGRICUTURAL STATISTICS.

(By Teibsbaph.) WELLINGTON June 16. The agricultural statistics, the compilation of which was dolajed by tho taking of the censuß, reveals a startling falling off m the grain jield. Unfavourable weather seriously, affected the cropa m the South, but allowing ' for that, the decrease is far boyond what wos ■, expected. Mr Brown, tho Registrar-General, i thinks tbafc the loss to the colony cannot be less than £500,000. The following is a sum- : mary :—Total holdings, 38,083; land m ! fallow, 210,609 acres ; m wheat, 301,460 acres, 6,723,610 bushels, against 8,448,506 bueheU last year i m oats for fodder, 203,694 ' acres; oats for graiD, 346,224 acres, 9 947.036 bushels, against 13,673,084 buahelß iv 1890 ; m barley, 32,710 acrei, 758,833 bu-hols, against 1,342,823 bushels last year; potatoes, ' 32,691 acres, 178,121 tons, against 169,729 ' tons last year; turnips or ropo, 402,184 acres ;'other orope, 35,775 acres; total under crop, 1,354,763 acres, m, cay, 44,045 acred, 63,050 ton?, against6s,476 tona last year; grass land after ploughing, 3,250,543 acres; ditto not ploughed, 3.715,675 acres; m garden, 9810 acres; orchards, 17,046 acres. Tho Registrar-General appenda the following remarks : —" Compered with la?t. year there io o Urge decrease m tho number of holdings m Otajjo and Canterbury, and a considerable ] increase m Wellington iitifl Hawke'a Bay m tho area under wbeitt. In March Ust it was lesa by 34,301 ac^» than m 1890, but tho area under oata was greater by 2546 acres, wilh this difference, however, that tho a'oit under oats for grain was leas thon m 1890 by 79 847 acres. The decrease of land undor ■ grain cropg and tho increase under turnips ' und green crops indicate the substitution, to • eorne extent, of pastoral farming for grain ' cultivation. That under turnips and rape wna Rrealer m 1891 by 49,231 acres, End that ' undor grass land ploughed by 22,631 acros. ' :