COMMERCIAL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 270, 10 January 1929, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

FARMING PRODUCTS-

The yearly report of the Director—leneral of Agriculture gives the olio wing interesting returns for the Jominion for the year 1928: Cattle, 3,273,769 ; increase for 'ear, 16,040 ; increase in dairy cows, >O,OOO. Sheep, 27,133,810 ; increase for fear, 1,484,794. Lambs, 13,373,267 ; increase for fear, 504,427. Breeding ewes (increase only),. 702,321. Pigs, 586,890 ; increase, 66,755. The number of sheep in the Dominion is the highest ever recorded. Herd Testing. The report stated that there was a distinct revival of the herd-testing movement, 54,000 more cows being tested. The total number tested was 224,130, made up as follows : Association system, 56,699 ; group system, 164,610 ; dairy companies, 2821. Cereal Crops. The area of wheat threshed was 260,987 acres, giving an average yield of 36.56 bushels per acre. There were 88,223 acres of oats, giving an average yield of 43.66 bushels per acre. The barley crop threshed from 21,091 acres returned an average yield of nearly 41 bushels per acre. Fruit Growing. There was a record quantity of fruit exported, the total being 1,026,986 cases, made of 867,710 cases of apples and 53,090 cases of pears to Great Britain, 87,157 cases of apples and 300 cases of pears to South America, 10,921 cases of apples to Canada and 7808 cases to Honolulu and the Pacific Islands. The total area planted in commercial orchards is approximately 30,000 acres. Potatoes. The area planted in potatoes for the 1927-28 season was 21,693 acres, which returned 121,402 tons.