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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4399, 26 April 1875, Page 2

Last Thursday's Gazette contains a summary of the various provincial returns giving " an account of land in cultivation,' " and the agricultural produce thereof,, "in New Zealand, in February 1875, "including a comparison with the agricultural statistics, in February, 1874." By this carefully compiled table, one can perceive almost at a glance, the progress made in the several parts' of the colony in agricultural pursuits. Taking the totals for the past two years we have the following results : February, 1874. February, 1875. No. Holdings .. 16,883 .. 16,092 Acres broken up .. ' 148,350 .. 164,883 Acres under crop .. 1,503,352 .. 1,788,707 It thus appears that the cultivated area of the colony had increased in 1875, as compared with the previous year, by 285,445 acres, while the new land broken up for next season's crop exceeded the similar area in 1874 by 6538 acres. The number of holdings had increased by 209 during the same period. Contrasting the agricultural produce of the two years in question, we find that with the exception of oats there has been a considerable falling off in all cereals, while permanent pasture, potatoes, and.'miscellaneous crops on the other hand exhibit a satisfactory increase. Thus:—

We think the foregoing figures should be regarded as satisfactory by the colony. While public works are in progress throughout the country, it is only to be expected that a large proportion of labor should be . withdrawn from agricultural pursuits. It is to this circumstance, no doubt, and the high price of beef and mutton, that we may attribute the very considerable increase in the area laid down in permanent pastures. The following statement shows the total cultivated area in the several provinces during the period under review. Thus :

The lead is, therefore, taken by Canterbury ; Otago ranks second on the list, while Wellington stands a good third. Auckland occupies the fourth place, and Hawke's Bay fifth. When the railways in course of construction have been completed, we may anticipate very large agricultural progress throughout the colony. Labor will be released and internal communication, rendered at once easy, cheap, and expeditious. But the progress already made is exceedingly good, and gives encouragement to all who believe in the. future prosperity of New Zealand.

185 Acres. 14. Bushels. 187 Acres. '5. Bushels. Wheat . Oats, graii Oats, ha; Barley . 132,425 1 109,472 y 22,218 22,132 3,301,633 3,292,808 608,492 105,673 157,543 21,053 16,235 2,974,339 5,548,729 477,162 Tons. . . . xons. Hay.. . Potatoes Other cro] Sown graa 43,614 11,614 OS 24,131 is 1,503,352 62,185 51,757 41,159 12,152 . 41,127 1,788,797 52,201 03,682

, 1874. 1875. ' Acres. Acres. Auckland.. .. 227,480 271,080 Taranaki 43,182 . 54941 AVellington .. 270,051 302,340 Hawke's Bay Marlborough Nelson .. 117,039 20,794 64,698 204,345 ' 35,800 60,310 Westland... 2,730 3,963 Canterbury .. 382,177 470,305 Otago .. 372,298 333,057 Total ..