THE AGRICULTURAL RETURNS.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 145, 1 July 1901, Page 1

THE AGRICULTURAL RETURNS.

A surrLEMKNTAKY Gazette jus l to hand gives tlie actual yield of the principal grain and other crops of the colony for the past harvest. The estimated yields of wheat, oats, and barley were greatly exceeded by the actual results ; wheat gave a bettor return by-1.61 bushels per acre, oats an increase of 8.4 b bushels, and barley 3.33 bushels. The area in wheat during the past season was 206,465 acres, and the yield at 31.61 bushels per acre luiiuiliiircci i'u C)oJ7}lo4 biislicls. Lu the season 1898-99, 399,034 acres were laid down in wheat, and the harvest was ! 3,073,416 bushels, so that in two seasons the yield of wheat has dropped by nearly 50 per cent. The Agricultural "Department estimates that on the 28th February last there was a wheat surplus of 3,260,659 bushels, Wheat cultivation cannot bo ranked as one of the stable industries of the colony. The area devoted to the crop varies with the market price, and it is quite obvious that generally speaking New Zealand farmers cannot grow wheat at a sufficient profit when the market price runs at about 29s 6d per quarter of 8 bushels c.i.f. London, and that in spite of an enormous yield. In Victoria mid South Australia on an average of about 6 to 10 bushels per acre the growing of the cereal appears to bo profitable, and this is a matter that has never been satisfactorily explained. There was one suggestion that the difference in freight, amounting to about 5s per ton, was against the New Zealand farmer, but this is ridiculous when the enormous yield is considered. It is more likely that our farmers find sheep growing and dairying more profitable, while the dearness of agricultural land added to the higher cost of labor and of living prevents a seasonable profit being made out of cereal crops. Oats have been a particularly strong feature of our agricultural returns during the past three seasons, and the reason for it is not far to seek. The crop of 1897-98 totalled 9,738,391 bushels as against 11,222.803 bushels in the previous season ; this shortage following a strong demand from Australia, where the drought had caused a shrinkage in supplies, led to high prices being obtained, with the result that in the following season an extended area was devoted to oats, and the yield amounted to 16,511,388 bushels. The war in South Africa has since helped to maintain values, and the production has continued on a large scale in this colony. For the season just passed 449,534 acres were laid down in oats, the largest area so devoted during six years, and the yield was 19,095,837 bushels, also the largest known. The prices are not as favorable as hitherto, owing to the competion of Australian grown oats in the Australian markets. The yields of barley, rye, and maize show a decline. In the season of IS9B- - the yield of maize was 813,379 bushels, and for the season just closed 502,697 bushels. It is a wonder maize-growing does not receive more attention, for it is a grain that has a very high commercial value. Maize is the leading crop of America, and its value is fully appreciated there. Every particle of the grain, including the cob, is manufactured into some useful product. The list of manufactured products for which corn furnishes the raw material are :—Mixing glucose, crystal glucose, grape sugar, anhydrous grape sugar, special sugar, pearl starch, powdered starch, refined grits, tlcurine, dextrine, British gum, granulated gum, gum paste, corn oil, corn oilcake, rubber substitute, gluten feed, chop feed, glutton meal, corn germ, and pulp for paper. The oil distilled from maize is in great demand for the manufacture of smokeless powder. This shows how veryuseful maize is, and if the right kind of factories were established in New Zealand the cultivation of maize would be encouraged. There is unfortunately a lack of information on the subject, and it ought to be the particular duty of the Department of Trade and Commerce to supply accurate details, which may bo easily obtained by applying to the authorities at Washington.—Post.