PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4411, 10 May 1875, Page 3

PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURE.

The New Zealand 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 agri- “ cultural statistics in February, 1871.” 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 ;

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, wo 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 only to be expected that a large proportion of labor should be withdrawn from agricultural pursuits.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 neriod 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 Hew Zealand, We have further agricultural statistics in the JS'ew Zealand Qazetle of April 26. The following returns have been furnished for the Psovixoe of Nelson : Fr.nr.uAr-Y, 1875.

There were 1234 holdings in Nelson when the statistics were compiled. 2560 acres were broken up for next season’s crop; and the total amonnt of land under cultivation was 60,136 acres. Contrasting last season’s yield with that for the previous year, we have the following results: —

We can hardly say that agriculture in Nelson showed anything like health during the past season. There was a considerable falling off in the yield of. ■wheat and oats, while the increase on barley and potatoes was hardly worth mentioning. It is to be hoped that next season’s statistics will exhibit a different state of things. We next come to the province of

The total number of acres under cultivation in Westland when the returns were compiled was 3,963 acres ; and 278 acres were broken up for next season’s crop. There were 251 separate holdings. Although these totals are insignificant, yet Westland exhibits an increase under the following heads, as compared with the harvest of 1873. Thus : Wheat (bushels) .. .. 543 increase Oats, do. ... .. 1,415 do. Barley, do. .. .. 07 do. Potatoes (tons) .. 75 do. The quantity is not large certainly, but -of Westland we must'say that it has made progress. The next province on the list is a small one—Marlborough— which foots up as follows ; —,

Vtaerurops There appears to have been a decrease of 7208 bushels of wheat, as compared with the previous year; also a decrease of 16,110 bushels of barley. There was an increase of 5474 bushels oats, and 366 tons of potatoes. Considering the favorable conditions for agricultural pursuits in Marlborough, we cannot say that it has anything whatever to boast of. Doubtless the labor employed on public works in some measure interfered with farming operations.

February, 1874. February, 1875. Ko. Holdings 15,833 16,092 Acres broken up . 143,350 164,838 Acres under crop , .. 1,503,352 .. 1,783,797

1874. 1876. Acres, Bushels. Acres. Bushels. Wheat .. 132,425 3,391,033 105,673 2,974,339 Oats, grain 109,472 3,292,800 157,643 5,543,729 Oats, bay 22,216 —. 21,053 Barley .. 22,132 000,492 16,235 477,102 : Tons. Tons. Hay. .. 43,014. 02,185 41,169 62,201 potatoes 11,614 61,757 12,152 03,682 Other crops 24,131 — 41,127 Sown grass 1,503,352 — 1,788,797 —

1874. Acres. ' 1875. Acres. Auckland.. .. 227,480 271,086 Taranaki .. 43,132 66,941 ■Wellington Hawke's Bay ,. 276,951 302.340 ., 117,039 204,345 Marlborough 26,794 35,806 54,093 00,316 Westland.. .. 2,730 3,963 Canterbury .. 382,177 470.305 Otago .. 372,293 333,657 Total .. .. 1,503,352 1,783,797

Acres Bushels. meat .. .. 1,850 37,524 Oats (green food) Oats (grain) .. 2,173 3,316 75,089 021 24,746 Grass bay .. 2,486 (tons) 3,017 Sown grass .. 49,787 Potatoes.. .. 1,063 (tons) 6,137 Other crops .. 1,204 —

1874 1875 bushels bushels bushels ■Wheat.. .. 44,874 37,527 decrease 7,350 Oats .. .. 76,300 75,089 do. 1,211 Barley.. .. 20.480 24,746 increase 4,266 Potatoes (tons) 4,577 6,137 do. 1,660

“WiEsrLAirD—February, Acres. 1875. Bushels. Wheat - 17 550 Oats (green food) .. 373 — Oats (grain) .. 40 1,545 Barley .. Grass hay.. .. 3 .. 17a 67 (tons) 291 Sown grass .. 3,198 Potatoes .. .. .. 232 (tons) 1,408

Mableokouoh, February, 1875. Acres. Bushels. Wheat .. 1,129 .. 23,104 Oats (green food) 1,039 Oats (grain) 1,697 .. 41,011 Barley 1,774 .. ,, 42,702 Grass Bay 732 .. /. 859 Sown Grass 29,722 Potatoes.. .. 267 (tons) 1,378 Other Crons .. 175