The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1884. Agricultural Returns

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 43, 12 April 1884, Page 2

The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1884. Agricultural Returns

We compile the following information from the account of land in cultivation and the agricultural produce thereof of the counties of Oroua, Manchester, and Rangitikei, up to February, 1884. The number of holdings, freehold, and leasehold in 1888 were 1095, these are now increased to 1116. Land broken up and undercrop in 1888 shows 1258 acres which in 1884 are increased to 4222 acres, 7687 acres were sown for wheat in 1883, and were estimated to return 158,482 bushels, while 8622 acres in 1884 were only expected to produce 156,123 bushels of wheat; oats, planted for green food or hay, 381 acres in 1883 and in 1884 show 547 acres, and for grain in 1888, 4623 acres have decreased to 4172 acres in 1884, the estimated returns are however greater for the latter year, as in 1883, the estimate was only for 114,554 bushels, as against 120,394 bushels for 1884. Barley has an increase, 412 acres in 1883 being raised to 661 acres in 1884, and the estimated gross bushels were for 1883, 10,829 bushels, and 22,436 bushels for 1884. In hay and sown grasses the average in 1883 was 283,001, and in 1884 has decreased to 200,636 acres. Only 805 acres of potatoes, as against 311 acres the previous year are planted. In turnips or rape, 4082 acres in 1884 compare favorably with 2168 acres in 1883. In garden or orchard there is an increase to 605 acres lor 1884 against 585 acres for 1883. A new item of 16 acres of tobacco in the Rangitikei County is added to the list, other crops not mentioned of maize, rape, peas and beans show an advance. The j total number of acres under crop (in- ! eluding s.wn grass) in 1883 was i 299,486 acres, as against 278,044 for 1884. This part of tne return is not clear. We find in the Rangitikei an j increase of acres under crop and grass, of 25,299, and a decrease in the Counties of Oroua and Manawatu of 46,741 acres under crop, that is an actual decrease in the district of 21,442 acres. The principal heading showing the deficiency is grass sown lands not previously ploughed, which in 1883 were 233,000 acres, and in 1884 only 200,646 acres. It will be interesting to our readers to be supplied with the foUowing particulars of the Oroua j County which was formed since the returns for 1888 were made up. The number of holdings are freehold, 849 ; rented, 109 ; part rented and part freehold, 44 ; total, 503. Land broken up not under crop, 862 acres. Land in wheat, 1851 acres, estimated to give 26,412 bushels. In oats for foed and grain, 910 acres, from which 24,876 bushels are expected, 111 acres of barley are to prodace 8,668 bushels ; 612 acres are estimated to give 809 tons of hay ; in grasses, after having been broken up, 6126 acres, and grass sown lands not previously ploughed, 52,722 acres. 141 acres in potatoes are estimated to produce 907 tons, 2 acres of sorghum, 7 acres of beans, 434 acres of turnips, 4 acres of mangolds, 281 acres of orchard, 29 acres of sundry crops, make a total of 62,120 acres under crop and grasses in the County of Oroua. It is possible some explanation may be given at a future time as to the disappearance of 21,442 acres from the returns. There is probably some error in the forms handed in by the sub-collectors, because in point of fact we are aware of several thousands of acres having been ! brought under cultivation during the last year.