AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2225, 12 October 1886, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

March 188 G. Tiiksk returns are just to hand. The figures for the fivo counties of Piako, Waikato, W.iipa, Raglan, and Kawhia show the following re-ults:— Wheat, 1291 acres, 3 1,430 bushels, average per aero 20 -(Hi bubhels ; outs, 2."i91 acres, 72,814 bushels average 28 bushel* ; barley, 150 acres, 3!)11 bushels, average 2o bushels. As compared with ISBS wheat shows an area reduced by 1351 acres, or over half, and a decrease in production of ;r>,7o~> bwshols ; oats with an increased breadth of 281 acres have a lower yield by 1104 bushels ; barley gives 219(5 more bushes from 82 more acres. The hay crop was 3280 or an average of I'll tons from 287(5 acres ; potatoes weie generally a poor ciop, yielding only 4524 tons from 1221 acic-, average 3 7 tons as against (5045 t >ns troni 1147 acres ; maize or sorghum, 104 acres against 08; rye or bere 7-"5 against 22; turnips or rapo were sown over neaily double the previous year's bieadth— l2,2l2 acres against (5914 ; mangolds, beet, carrots paionips and onions 321 acres against 227; tobacco, 11 against 5; hops, pievionsly represented by one acre, disappear from the list. The extent of grasses sown after ploughing is 1(59,117 acips, and in surface foam) (51,705, showingarespectivoinciu.se of 02,737 and 39,051 acres, The are* in

pardons and orchards is 1218 aero*, an increase of 25 percent. ; and in plantations of forest tree* 3(»72 jp.imst 3I!»7. Much of the trouble and expense however, is wasted by the suicidal system of leaving trees to themselves when once planted, and by the shameful neglect of fences.