AGRICULTURAL RETURNS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 219, 24 December 1910, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL RETURNS

AREA UNDER CROP. By Telegraph.— ±Tesa Association. "" Wellington, Friday. Following is an estimate of the area under certain crops on October 20, 1910: —Wheat area for threshing year 1910-11, 274,533 acres; 1909-10, 311,000 acres, decrease, 36,467 acres. Oats area for threshing, year 1910-11, 353,997 acres; 1909-10, 378,000 acres, decrease, 24,003 acres. Barley area for threshing, year 1910-11, 32,969 acres; 1909-10, 41,500 acres; decrease, 8531 acres. Maize area for threshing, year 1910-11, 9613 acres. Peas area for threshing, year 1910-11, 13,673 acres. Ryegrass area for seed, 1910-11, 50,352 acres; 190910, 56,550 acres; decrease, 6198 acres. Cocksfoot area for seed, 1910-11, 26,527 acres; 1909-10, 29,500 acres; decrease, 2973 acres. Red clover area for seed, 1910-11, 4822 acres., White clover area for seed, 1910-11, 693 acres. Potatoes, 1910-11, 30,050 acres; 1909-10, 30,500 acres; decrease, 450 acres. Turnips, 1910-11, 508,596 apres; 1909-10, 522,550' acres, decrease, 13,954 acres. Mangolds, 1910-11, 11,004 acres. Rape, 1910-11, 220,662 acres; 1909-10, 225,035 acres; decrease, 4373 acres. The area of oats grown for chaffing is probably larger than for the preceding two seasons, the Marlborough production being estimated 1 at 7000 acres to 8000 acres. A considerable quantity in localities affected by insufficient rain, intended for threshing, has been used for chaff. The areas of turnips and rape have been increased in some districts since the returns were collected by crops of these plants being sown on land which had been occupied by cereal crops fed off or harvested early owing to dry weather. The dry season in the principal grain-growing districts had the effect of checking the develop-1 ment of crops to such an extent that some were fed off by stock and some! ripened prematurely and were cut for chaff. Cocksfoot; and ryegrass seed crops have also been greatly diminished! by the same cause. Rains since the middle of November caused a great improvement in the remaining crops and pastures.