Agricultural Statistics

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 121, 18 April 1889, Page 3

Agricultural Statistics

Fr<uu a summary of agriculluraetati.tics for the counties of Eangitikei, Manawatu, Oroua, and Horowhenua, supplied to us by Mr Deighton, •comparing tlie returns uf this and last year's principal crops and land under #rass, we find the following results : The number of holdings this year is 1,854, being an iiH-reaw nf 246, Thy number of acres in wheat this year was 5,704 a decrease of 339, the yield being the same as last year, namely, a trifle over 23 bushels to the acre. In oats this year there were 5,279 acres, ■or an increase of 986, yielding over 4)4 bushels, being six bushels more than last year. There were 354 acres of barley, giving 41 bushels to the acre, showing an increase of 119 in acerage, and 1 5£ bushels in yield. In turnips there were 8,541 acies, an increase of 990. The number of acres in grasses, after having been brokeu up, was, this year. 73,996, being an * increase of 4,594 acres, and in grasssown lands not previously ploughed the acreage was 347,981* or 23,752 - acres more than last year. In pota* toes there were 619 acres, an increase -of 108, aud a yield of over 5 tons te the acre. The total number of acres under crop, including sown grasses, is 443,789 acres, bhowing an increase of 31,737 acres. Dairy cows were this .year, for the first time, enumerated, . and the return gives the number as 8,789. The above results, as far as they go, are satisfactory, demonstrating, as they do, material progress iv . the four . counties, especially in grass lands, but we baye good reason to know that the yield of grain bas been greatly under-estimated. If a better system were adopted with regard to this information, the returns would bs far more reliable and valuable. It would also most conclusively prove wbat has long been maintained, that the ' land in these districts can be favourably compared with any in the ■colony. We cannot abstain from again expressing our surprise at the very meagre provision a large majority of the farmers make f«-t winter forage, 3,541 acres of turnip- (the best paying of crops) and about 1,600 acres of hay, is a painfully small proportion of winter food in an area of nearly half a- million acres under crop. This is a matter that only a few of the farmers hereabouts have duly considered. In places where a more intelligent system of farming prevails, abundance -of winter food, and consequent enrichment of land, are great factors in the farmers' riches. We trust next year'i return will show that the farmers on this Coast bave determined not to be behind the times in this respect any longer.