NOTES TO TABLE ON PRECEDING PAGE.

• 23,206 for green food, 108,934 for hay.

† Including—4,491 acres in maize, produce 171,661 bushels; 6,737 acres in rye and bere, produce 100,385 bushels; 4,779 acres in peas, produce 124,338 bushels; 4,402 acres in beans, produce 157,294 bushels; 706 acres in hops, produce 7,059cwt.; 4 acres in tobacco, produce 2,212lb. dried leaf; 6,881 acres in mangold, beet, carrots, parsnips, and onions; 2,049 acres in maize, cut for green food; and 4,790 acres in other crops.

‡ Returns for Pahiatua County apparently deficient. Inquiry is being made, but it is considered undesirable to hold back any longer the general results of the collection, which are therefore published subject to slight revision of figures as to number of holdings and acreage of grass land.

§ It is believed that the estimates of grain crop for 1892 were too high, and the estimates for the current year have therefore been checked by means of 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 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.

NOTE.—In the returns of agricultural statistics as above summarised, gardens, orchards, plantations of forest-trees, holdings of one acre or less in extent, and holdings occupied by aboriginal natives, are not included; but the returns for 1893 show a total extent of land in garden of 9,763 acres, in orchard of 20,085 acres, and in plantations of forest-trees of 40,401 acres.

In addition to the agricultural statistics, the following information as to the number of cattle and breeding cows was also obtained: Provincial Districts—Auckland, 221,481 head of cattle (of which 73,666 were breeding cows); Taranaki, 126,700 head of cattle (47,479 breeding cows); Hawke's Bay, 54,241 head of cattle (20,467 breeding cows); Wellington, 155,144 head of cattle (57,858 breeding cows); Marlborough, 7,666 head of cattle (2,972 breeding cows); Nelson, 31,024 head of cattle (10,467 breeding cows); Westland, 7,721 head of cattle (2,970 breeding cows); Canterbury, 67,850 head of cattle (30,353 breeding cows); Otago, 136,612 head of cattle (59,038 breeding cows). Total, 808,439 head of cattle (including 305,270 breeding cows).

The returns also show that, at the time of the collection, there were 254 silos or ensilage stacks in the colony.

Reports were made by the Collectors to the following effect:—

North Island.—At Mahurangi and Puhoi: Caterpillars and bot-fly noticed. At Waiuku: The codlin moth. Maungatawhiri Riding: About one-fourth of crop destroyed by Hessian fly and wet weather causing rust. Cook County: Bot-fly becoming prevalent. Waikato district: Caterpillars causing damage. Porewa, and within a short distance round Marton, Rangitikei: The heavy land with stiff clay subsoil not properly drained appears to encourage the fly, the loss of wheat varying from 30 to 50 per cent.; in soil naturally rich, or improved by good drainage and tilling, the damage done by the fly is stated to be inconsiderable and not alarming to farmers. Wairarapa: Loss from Hessian fly estimated at from 3 to 25 bushels an acre near Masterton: at Carterton, loss in a few places where stubble not burnt previous year; complaints of sparrows: at Greytown, from 5 bushels to the acre to half the crop destroyed by the fly; it attacks the wheat at second or third joint from the ground, the ear falls, and the machine passes over it when cutting: it has been suggested that wheat-growing should be discontinued for a season or two in order to banish the fly.

Middle Island.—In Omaka district: The Hessian fly a source of great trouble, but pest confined to comparatively small area. In Motueka: About half the wheat crop was damaged by the fly, and at Riwaka the loss was estimated at 30 per cent. At Stoke a little damage, but not so bad at Wai-iti as in previous year. At Ahaura: The settlers reported not to be troubled to any extent with the fly. At Outram and Maungatua the fly was found; small birds also complained of. In Bruce County the fly caused 10 bushels to the acre of damage in some instances. In Tuapeka and Clutha, very little damage. Southland: Small birds very destructive.