THE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2508, 27 May 1893, Page 2

THE AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Wellington-, May 25. The results of the collection of the agricultural statistics for the colony made in February and March last are published in to-night’s Gazette. As compared with the returns for the previous year the figures show a decrease of 1,870,531 bushels in the gross estimated produce of wheat in the colony, a decrease of 1,115,121 bushels of oats, a decrease of 34,542 bushels of barley, and a decrease of 57,873 tons of potatoes. It is believed that the estimates of the grain prop for 1892 were too high, and the estimates for the current year have therefore been checked by means of the threshing mill statements received. Deductions have also been made for loss by weather and Hessian fly. The decrease of crop, shown in the comparison of the one year with the other is probably not entirely real, but' partly + due to the. statistics for this year being more trustworthy than those of 1892, In the extent qf land broken up but not under crop there is an increase qf 13,800 acres, but in the total number of acres under crop (exclusive of land under grasses) there fs a decrease of 51,444 acres, The extent of land ip sown grasses shows a very substantial increase, but there is a large decrease in grass seed produce. The returns also show that in the Auckland provincial district there are 221,481 head of cattle ; Taranaki, 26,700 head: Hawke’s Bay, 54,421 head; Wellington, 155,144 head ; Marlboroughj 7666 head Nelson, 31,024 head; Westland, 7721 head; Canterbury, 67,850 head; Otago, 136,612 head. Total for the colony! 806,439 head of cattle,'including 308,270' breeding cows,