SEASON'S PROSPECTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 737, 9 February 1910, Page 7

SEASON'S PROSPECTS.

CORN AND GREEN CROPS. 7 ...DEPARTMENT'S. ESTIMATES. v Tho following .is the Agricultural department's estimate of the area under certain crops,, -.and'.'the condition .of tho crops, on January 10, 1910.— Wheat' (area ■ for : threshing) -1009-10, 811,000 acres; 1908-9, 252,391' acres; increase, 58,609 acres. . . • - Oats (area 5 ' for '■ 'threshing).— loo 9-10, 377,000 acres- 1908-9, 40G.908 acres;' decrease,. 29,908 acres. ■ '■•■ ■-'-.•■.- ; ■'"'' Barlfcy (area . for threshing) .-1909-10, 41,500 acres;.looß-0, 48,853 acres; decrease, 7353 acres.'.' .. : .';,., .■" . .'.. Ryegrass (area for 6eed).-r-1909-10, 56,550 acres; 1008-9, 50,126 acres;" increase,' 6424 (acres. 7; ' ;... ■ ,V. .. • .' ■..- ■;■.. .■ .'. Cocksfoot (area for wed).—l9o9-10, 29,500 acres; 1908-9,.32,705 acres; decrease, 3203''acres. • :,\ •■ ' . • '.- .. /Potatoes.—l9o9-10, .30,500 acres; .1908-9, 29,919 acres; increase, 581 acres. ' ■. . .Turnips.—l9o9-10, 522,550 acres; 1908-9, 530,636 acres; decrease, 8086 acres. ' !Enpe.-1909-10,"'.. 225,035 "acres; 10Q8-9; 220,240 acres; increase, 4795 acres.'.

There is a large increaso in'the area of pea's in Marlbprough, and of maize in Auckland and Taranaki.: , The,.' weather during tKe',month, since Deqeniber. 10 has been'.-generally, dry, but relieved in most ilstricto towards the. close of -the. period, by.nUio'showwß. At the end of December' hish vrinde aid fiomo damage to' crops in «si>o{cd eituafjops, but had a good effect, in reniovinij rznt from cereals. ' Caterpiljara.were destructive in the Wairarapa, Mwiborongh, and •parts of North Canterbury. ; ijijtricts,-. but the. rapid ripening of tlie Rrain'checkfld. their ravages. Hcseian iij-. has appeared in several localities, but tho. damage, from tMs pest has 'not teea'greai. The. offfc.M; ol tho absence of raia have bofsn' moec serious. in North and? Central ; ptaSo and. or. parts of the Canterbury Flaioa, where •'. the condition of the crops is how several bushels: per acre lower than in Deccniber. In districts vWiere the conditions iuvo been favourable tho crops, many "of 'the.- carliev of. which liivobeenv harvested,; are even better than they appeared α-inenth ago. Consequently the modifications'in tho present-.report compared with'that of December aro not qf 'greatmagnitude, the inost important occurring through l tho stunted-growth ; and premature- ripening of .groin in Otago.i-Turnip, and rape crops in Canter-, bury and North ,Otago' ware, in' a ,pre-, carious condition from .wapi; of .moisture, but , have-been greatly benefited by thorecent' '.'rains.' " Pastures 7 have ' been similarly' improved. Tho. hay crop, was secured ;in'the bast of condition, and iviis generally of -fair bulk,. Potato-disease made no further/spread, until tho. closei of the period^under review, and.then in lew localities. , , The condition of the mam crop'-is- better: than ; for .some,.season patf. -The appended _table .gives jthe , figures 'for'.'the", several ' districts..... The. prospects of the crops are based.uppn the condition of the crops on January. 10, and are expressed in- average. yield per acre, as being the simplest form.. A further, interim report Vill, be issued this month.

: V: ESTIMATED FIELDS. ;.■ :,. ■ ' .The "following : ■ are,the 'totals, .for tho area and estimated yields of crops.: Tho figures': for. : last. year are . given inparentheses:—' ■■■■:-:. . : ;. ; .■■'■ >; . .-'. .■. \r.K'X : :6 : Averageyield;; -Area : -peracre. '■■: .Total yield. . ; '.. '■::.. - ■■• ■/ ' ■- ■ , •'■ ■-'■•'• 311,000"- ■•'•\ ■•'■"- 34 .'■'.;;', .10,708,400 ' ' ■ - (252,391) (3i.75). ■; ■ 1nc.55,(i09 ■ .. '. Inc. 1,935,610 . --..-.■-■ v '■■■,"/'■;■"•; ■ Oats.' : ■.,■■- ■■ \- :'■''■'- - '. ■377,000-'.V': .' 46 ■ : ,17,182,00.0: : ' (406,908)" ■'' . (46.46) :.: : '(18,906,783), .., ; 1)ec.29,908,:;:,!,- • :■) ; ;>. Dec. 1,724,788. \ ■■ ■■'■■■''■■ ■.■■•.''■-.■■ ' :i -"V'l Barley:. ; ' , i:: '.''■ ■' -■•■ : 41,500 ' ; .' , 3r ; '■ 1>531.800 '■■■"' : (48,858) V: (39.67) (1,938,452) ~ I! ; 'i)ec;7,353.:: "V ■ I''"-: De0,406,653.V ■ ■'~• •• ■ • ;; ■;■;' Eyegrass,. '..,''■■:.■ , : . ' 56;550 ■ 33. !'■ 1,894;650- ■ :. (50,126)':- ..(32,53). • . (1,630,615) - , :i 1n0.6,421 v.i.i'i'v ; ■; ■"-1iic.264,035'I--.,- ■='. ' ; ;. , ,.)-i-"'Cocksfo6t.'i.; : .;.-v.;..:'.,;;. i"' 29,500 •>-:;151-- , v v - -4,451,000 .'■;;: '.- '' (32,705) ' ■■■■■'■ (144.35) ,'■; .(4,721,159) ' ;■ Def1!3,205 ' ;'.-'■■■• ■ .•Dec;270,159 i : :"■;'•: : - ,: "; '.■: ipotstbes'. , :'-".-': , ;:; ".'■,: .'■■;■■ :'.'' ,30,500/ : '', 6 '• : 1''186,500': " (29,919) . ' (6.52) (155;206)^ '-Inc. 581 :;..'.. '. 8,706 : .'. '. Turnipß. : ■ 523,550:" ■. .-■■ ■. '■,-. '■•: ■■..: '.--... ■V ,(530.036) : '■:,:.■ ..,'.. ,: . •".; , , l.f Deo.B,oß6 ■■;.■ ■■ '■..- .-■•-■ ■ •;-■■,; - .■:■:; .■■■'• '■' ■'- ".-.-Bape.. .•'.,. ■-■.:. '; : 225,035 ■:.":■: ..'• ,- - i • ■ - : (220,240) '.-■•■' y : ' ' : : ' • ■ ■ ■'-' : ;.' : .:in6;4,795.;.>:.- i; :.. , v V-. .-;..•..'■...' '.. i. DISTRICT YIELDS. ; 'The following are the areas and' cstl< imated '.yields for ■spepial districts, :tho figures for'last : yeaf being given in parep-,:theses:-r-■'■'■ ■'■" : . ■■■•'"■•" '■''■ ".:■":'-.'■ j ;;.- ./:■:, hawe's bay.- ■ ■■■■ V'. ,V : .'.!■■■■ 'Wieatv ' :'.-'v. ; ' .;': ..■.'. ■ j.: ■'-■■'. .:,:< .■■ Average yield ; -.;.•„ ~ /■...■■■ ■ : ' Aiea. : '■:'■ per acre: t Totalyield. ■ --1,000 :v'-' 36 -7- 36,000: " :, : (60S) -J'- -,(34)"■■■.'■■■: (22,712) . bats..'-;. : .;'-: v '.:. v :'.v ■r- 8,000 . ' '• 43 •.•■ : :344,000 ;■!• . >::v(8,719),■■;;,>. (41). ■■>:.: (357,479).'.:, i~ ' •,' '•'-. -■ ■Barley..' .. '."-'V- .'.:'..• '■ : '" 3,000 '48 '.-■ ' ;'■ 144i000 ' ■' •■■ ; (3451) : : '; r v (48) '."•';• ■ ■ (165,618) ■• ■. :'.'''■■;.': ■:".■'■■ •'■' ■' 'Ryegrass.- : ; .'-' ~"' :: ." ; ; ■ ■<:■: '. : -C;: 6,000 : .'.- : ; : ■28 '■. '■■;- 168,000 • : .-.'■ : : .(6,331) ~ .. (151,9«) :;'■;'' ■■'; ■■Cocksfoot.': "•■ ■- :I ,■'". '■ 700 '■■::''' 150"..■■.'■■ 105,000 ; ...-.- I;.- (695) ': : ; ..(140). y ... .(97,300) V; '■■■■ : -.'- ; ' ]-;•'■'■ I Potatoee; ': '.. ; '" ■".' •'' ! ; : 2,000' ; ■•' 6 ' ' 12,000 ;,. (2,223). / ;■; (8) : ~ 1 Turnips. : :. .. 16.000 , ' : :' '. : ■' • - ■.'.•.■■-. awes)-■..•■;•'.■■' ■■":c-:-.: k -- : - / -y.r' . ■;■ ■;■:.:. ■'■■ Eape. ; ; ' . :•■ • ■ 25,000 ■■■--■ ■■'■■-' '-'.■■•"■■•• -' , •; (24,007) ■ :■'• ■■■'- ■'■/ : I, - '.... , ,;. TAEANAKI. ■■■ / d' -' ; : : :V .;, ' : '■'.'■: Wheat. ■, ■ : ■ : ■.' '' : 1,000 : '" Sβ .36,000 . ' : - :.(756) :.•...' V (36); V ■'■■'. : (27,216) - •.'■-,■■•■ ■■•.■.•■■'•. -Oats. ::' .•.••'.■' -■'■ 3,500 ■•:.:'■■■■■ ,42 ■: ■ 147,000 ■ ■-;- ' ■ ■ (3,168) (42) .; :• (133,056) ■: '.~ : l. ." .".8ar1ey.'.....';,, ~.'. 1; . ' '■■■' 1,200 45 54,000 "■•■ ' (1,269) '~;.':■(«)■• . " (57,105) . ' ' . ■ Eyegrass. ... : .'. 150 .'.■'" 30 ..'-, 4,500 . :■..'■ (159) ':■■ '(30): '.•■ W." 0) ,:

; . : .'Cocksfoot..V"■'-.= ■ "250.. '•■ ■. 170 , . ,42,500. : '■■■■ - Potatoes. : ■■" ■ 600 -■'■'. 7 ; . 4,200 / (579) „,', ($): -/.I". (4.632) . Turnips.' ,18,000 •'■. ■•'. ■■.'■■■■,■ ' ■•'■ (16,638) " ■•■■■■•.■ v : : ' " ' ■ Rape. : 4,500 - : •■■•■'- •-■■•'- •■■■■■ (4,076) : . " , WELLINGTON. ,'. ■ ■' " Wheat, . 7,700 : !■ 34: ' '261,800 (6,000) (35.00) ■••-.■• (210,544)'. • ' ■ ':' '" ■'. , Oats. , '...'. ■'..•'. : 15,000 ' 40 .•■■' 600,000 09,619) ', (40.55) , '(795,619) './'■■' Barley. : / ' ' ". . 1,200 . so. ;' ' ' 60,000 :.': (1,639) (51) .' ; (83,619),; ' Eyegrass. '... -.". 2,500 ■ ' ; . ■'•■'■ 24 60,000 (3,523) .. (24) , (84,552) ' Cocksfoot : ... .'■■ 1,000 . 140 ' 140,000' (1,100) ; . : (139). (152,900)', '''' ■'■'.-. Potatoes. 2,400 : 5 12,000 (2,505) ■'•■',■ (6). / (15,030) s ■• • Turnips.26,000 ■- ~-• ' '■: (25,52.1) -. •:.. •■■•■. -■■• ■■:■.:. : '■'• -■■-■■■•Eape; '•• '- '- " 31,000 ''■■ (32,625) . '

,".' : MARLBOEOUGH. ' ; : ■; Wheat. ! . ' 7,500 ; : ' 3-t ■■"::' 255.000 , ■;. (1,078) . (35) ..'. , (60,230) . I :' ■' • ■ : • -■' Oats. "' : ' •■:'••' ' 2,500 '•■■■■ 42 '■'- 105,000 . .'- (3,247) (41) , (142,868) ..Barley. 12X00 ' .30 ■ 360,000 (13,272) (35) , , (464,520). . ■ Ryegrass. 650 '■: 27. ... V 17.550 (658) . (27) •" . (17,760). - :■.'. "..'l.'.Cocksfoot. , .., . ■'■'■..■•■' . 1,000 •■'- 177 . .177,000 . :/■-.• (036) (177) (171,522) ~...'■..-.'' '",;Potatoes. ';• ';■; ' .:. •■.'■,■ 700 '■■■' '■ -8 . 5,600 (059) ,-■■ (7) . . I, (4,G83). ; ; : ' ' ■"■ : Turnips. ■'■' ' 6,200 , . ' ".' .' .".' (6,407) ' .','■ "..: ..- ,1 . , i . Rape.. .. . 9,500 ■•-,■. . - (8,583) "■■ '■ ■ ' : .:.■" . --~ NELSON. . . ' Wheat, ..-■ •: ■''■ 1,200 -30 36,000 ' (1,0.71) . (31) ■'•... (33,201). ';-■< . •:■'■■ .Oats.:. " . :' 3,000 . ' . 40 -■.': 120,000 . ■..-•'. (3,830) ;(42). •; (161,112) : ' •"• Barley.;: . .3,000 .'..". SO. '." 90,000 ■■':&m (k>)'v. (? u - 376) : .(62)::. . '... (18). ;• . •;, (i;ii6); Cocksfoot. "\- 500 • 175 .87,500 . -■■■'. (532) ',". (175) (93,100) ; ■••'.''■'■■' Potatoes. ' ■ • • 900 . 0 '-, 5.4C0 x (868) -.-. ; (0)..: (5,203) x . •."'■; '■■ Turnips. ■-.■•■' : ■: 6,000.-. ■■-■ ';■■■ •' -':..' .- - (54U3) . . -:,::- .'..' .: .: •. -.-. ...... . Rape. ' 2,000 "■' ■;-■ ; . - . ■•"."'. (1.85 P) '■■.■, :.:. ..:' . - ; ':.: