NEW ZEALAND

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 244, 5 July 1915, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND

THE SEASON'S CROPS. WHEAT YIELD INCREASED. OTHER LINES SHOW BIG FALLING OFF. j Figures hav e been compiled by the Government Statistician's Department ! showing the yields of cereal crops in jthe Dominion for the past season. I The information has been prepared from returns of actual yields just collected from farmers throughout New Zealand. Applying these yields to the areas under crop as ascertained in November last, the total actual yield of th e harvest should be 5,486,069 bushels of wheat and 11,436,301 bushels of oats. The threshing returns, being collected this season for the first time, and which are part of the new system for the collection of these statistics to be introduced next season, however, show that 6,487.824 i bushels of wheat and 6,431,995 bushels Jof oats have actually been threshed i down to June 17th "After allowing for the fact that a small quantity of wheat threshed was in respect of last year's crop," th e statistician remarks, I'it would appear tha%the area under | wheat obtained in the spring was con'siderably understated. This can only be accounted for on the assumption 'that som e farmers must, have been omitted from the collection, and that others may have sown an additional area after posting their returns. Steps ar e being taken to verify the acreage in order that the true position may be ascertained. In the case of oats the figures would seem to indicate that ther e are still considerable stocks unthreshed end stacked, or that quantities intended for threshing hav e been chaffed." Tb e following table shows the average and total yields of the principal crops as made up for the season: Field Total, per acre yield. •Wheat, bushels 28.94 5,486,069 •Oats, bushels 39.77 11,436,301 •Barley, bushels .... 32.53 596.828 Rye grass, bushels.. 21.03 1,063,810 Cocksfoot, lbs 135.50 2,378,160 Potatoes, tons 6.06 132,635 '"For threshing only. The wheat yield shows an increase of 254,389 bushels on that of the previous season, although th 8 average vleld i.s nearly 22. bushels per acre lower this year. The total acreage is 189,567, as compared with 166,774 last year. All the other crops mentioned above eyihib.it a falling off hi the acreage and the total yield, the] amounts of the decreases in the lat- ■ ter being as follows: Oats 3.304 646 bushels, barley 608,800 bushel?, ryegrass 36,025 bushels, cocksfoot 2,578278 bushels, potatoes 24,559 tons' In the average yields per acre there was a decreas r of nearly a bushel in oatover five bushels in barley, and abrm* 55Jlb i n cocksfoot; while rvc-grcas gave an increase of 1.39 bushels and potatoes .67 ton (IgOOIbs) per acre