THIS SEASON’S CROPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 9

THIS SEASON’S CROPS.

ESTIMATED AVERAGE YIELDS

RESULTS OF OFFICIAL CENSUS [From Our Correspondent.! WELLINGTON, February 26.

The Government Statistician has prepared from the reports of tho Agricultural Department’s enumerators particulars of the crop prospects throughout New Zealand. The returns were collected from farmers through the post. All the. forms posted to farmers were not returned, tho percentage of returns received out of tho forms issued varying from 82.72 in Auckland to 95.53 in Canterbury, and averaging 89.01 per cent over the whole dominion. Tho estimated yields are:— Wheat (bushels). 6,388,776. Oats (bushels), 14,908,259.

Barley (bushels), 1,196,772. Ryegrass (lbs), 27,995,130. Cocksfoot (lbs), 5,734,787. Potatoes (tons), 192,636. Turnips (tons), 7,705,991. Mangels (tons), 286,352. Some details aro given of prospects in each province as follows: — Auckland—Season good and yields generally abovo the average. Potatoes, however, aro affected by blight in several localities.

Taranaki —Wheat and oats good crops generally, and barley fair to good. Yields of grass seed very satisfactory. Potatoes fair average, but other root crops irregular. Late sown turnips and mangels, however, are doing well. Hawke’s Bay—Good yields of wheat, oats, barley and ryegrass; Turnips and mangels also good, though the weather has affected root crops in some localities.

Wellington—Heavy yields of wheat and oats in, Wanganui district and good yields of other crops, except that early-sown turnips are unsatisfactory. Wairarapa crops looked promising, but bad weather will diminish the yields in the remainder of the province. Oats failed and potatoes were severely affected by blight. Good crops of turnips. Marlborough and Nelson—Crops doing fairly well and good yields expected. Canterbury—Grain crops and cocksfoot well up to average, in spite of bad weather. Early potatoes attacked with blight, but later, crops more satisfactory. and yields should equal last year’s. Qtago—Wheat and oat crops not good, except in Manioto to, Vincent and Waitaki counties. •. Good yields of turnips and also of potatoes, though blight is fairly widespread, especially in coastal districts. Southland—Oats lighter than usual and ryegrass not quite up to standard. Average crop of potatoes, blight prevalent. Prospects of turnip crop good. TPer Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 26. Tlio following aro tlio estimated average yields of various New Zealand crops for tho current season: Bushels per aero. Wheat 32.33 Oats ...... 41.03 Barley . . , . . . 33.31 Maize .. . . 5130 Poas . . , . . 33.37 lb per acre. Ryegrass' . . . . . 503.G1 Cocksfoot . . . . . 220.48 Chewing's fescue . . . 282.31 clover .... 174 21 Whito clover .... 123.74 Tons per acre. Potatoes ... . . G. 7 Turnips 15.1 ft Mjangols . ... . . 31.12