AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2216, 18 June 1891, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

. "W ellisoson, Jane 16. Tbe agricultural statistics, tbe compilation of which was delayed by tbe taking of the censo.B, reveals a startling falling off in the grain yield, Unfavor. able weather seriously aff#oted the crops in tbe South, bat allowing for that, tbe decrease is far beyond what was expected. Mr Brown, the Registrar-General, thinks that the loss to the colony cannot be less tban £900,000. The following is a summary : Total holdings, 38,083 ; land in fallow, 210,509 acrea ; in whes', 301,460, acres, 57,23,610 bushels, against 8,448,506 bushels last year ; in oats for fodder, 203,694 acres ; oats for grain, 846,224 seres, 9,947,036 bushels, against 13,673,584 bushels in 1890 ; in barley, 32,740 acres, 758,833 bushels against 1,312,823 bushels last year ; potatoes 82,691 acres, 178,121 tone, against 159,729 tone last year, turnips or raja, 402,184 acres ; other crops, 35.775 acres ; total under crop, 1,354,768 acres, in say 44,045 acres, 63,050 tons against 65,476 tons last year ; grass land after ploughing, 3,250,543 acres; ditto not ploughed, 8,715,675 acres j in garden, 9810 acres ; orchards, 17,046 acres. The Registrar General appends the following remarks : — " Compared with last year there is a large decrease in the number of holdings in Otago and Canterbury, and a considerable increase in Wellington and Hawke's Bay in the area under wheat. In March last it was less by 34,801 aoreß than in 1890, but the area under oats for graia was IeBS than iu 1890 by 79,847 acres. The decrease of land under grain crops and the increase under turnips and green crops indicate tbe substitution, to some extent, of pastoral farming for grain cultivation, ihat under turnips and rape was greater in 1891"by49J281 acres, and that under grass land ploughed by 22,681 acres.