AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 251, 29 June 1881, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

To the Editor. Sir, —Being of a mathematical turn of mind, I naturally take a good deal of interest in statistics, and being also connected with agricultural pursuits, the statistics upon this subject particularly claim my attention. I was, therefore, much pleased to see a summary of those relating to this district appear in your columns a few issues •go, which —with two exceptions— (afterwards, I observe, explained) were perfectly correct so far as tallying with each other was concerned. I have just finished reading an article upon the same subject in the Express, however, and I must say I am astounded at some of the results obtained, and my faith in the soundness of newspaper arithmetic is somewhat shaken. In dealing with the figures taken from the returns, your contemporary appears to be pretty correct, but in calculating averages ho is deplorably weak, not a single oneof the results being accurate. For instance he tolls us that the average number of bushels of wheat per acre in ISBO, was :—Sounds, 32 ; Marlborough, 25 ; Kaikoiira, 24 ; and gives the average for the provincial district as 25, instead of 27, as from these figures it clearly must be. For 1881, he says the average per acre was : —Sounds, 23 ; Marlborough, 20 ; Kaikoura, 29 ; and gives the average for provincial district at 21 instead of 24 as it should be. The average yield of oats for 18S0, he states at: —Sounds. 51 : Marlborough, 28 ; Kaikoura, 32 ; and for the provincial district 29 instead of 37. For 18S1, the average for provincial district is given as 27 ; Kaikoura being set down as 24; and Marlborough, 27. In barley, the same errors are manifest for the yield

per acre, in 1880, is set down as : —Sounds, 17 ; Marlborough 31 ; Kaikoura, 20; provincial district 31, instead of 24 two thirds. In 1881, the figures given are 27, 27, and 23, which by some extraordinary process is made to appear an average for the provincial district of 27, instead of 25 two-thirds. There are also numerous errors in the adding up of the various columns under the head of “ acres” and “ bushels,” the worst being in “barley 1880,” and it is very evident the figures are not to be depended upon by the future compiler.—l am, &c., AGKTL’OLA. Awatere, June 25.