848
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 34

The quantity of wheat to be dealt with for the period November, 1896, to November, 1897, may therefore be estimated as follows: 281,608 acres, less estimated to be deducted as cut for chaff, &c., 23,000 acres: total, 259,608 acres, at 25 bushels per acre, equals 6,465,200 bushels. Quantity on hand, 10th November, 1896, 1,310,027 bushels: total to be dealt with, 7,775,227 bushels.

Under the heads “For Chaffing” and “For Feeding down” there is a decrease of 2,077 acres and 1,380 acres respectively.

OATS.

The area “For Threshing” is—1896–97, 396,607 acres; as against, for 1895–96, 364,788 acres: increase, 31,819 acres. But here again a deduction of, say, 24,000 acres must be made for what has been cut for chaff or eaten off with stock. The actual area “For Threshing” will therefore be 396,607 acres: less estimated as cut for chaff, &c., 24,000 acres: total, 372,607 acres, averaging 30 bushels, equals 11,178,210 bushels. On hand, 10th November, 1896, 1,111,591 bushels: total to be dealt with, 12,289,801 bushels.

Under the heading “For Chaffing” there is the considerable increase of 15,518 acres, and “For Feeding down with Stock,” 2,400 acres; but “For Ensilage” there is a decrease of 1,127 acres.

BARLEY.

The area under this heading “For Threshing” is, for 1896–97, 31,313 acres, as against, for 1895–96, 35,358 acres—or a decrease of 4,045 acres.

A further area of, say, 1,500 acres must be deducted on account of the drought. The total area, therefore, “For Threshing” will be, say, 30,813 acres; estimated average yield, 25 bushels—770,350 bushels; and on hand at 10th November, 1896, 171,233 bushels: to be dealt with, 941,583 bushels.

OTHER CROPS.

Rye, maize, peas, beans, vetches, tares, linseed, hops, &c., require little comment. The area under “Linseed” is less than last year. This crop should receive more attention.

GRASSES, CLOVERS, ETC.

Under the headings “For Feeding down” and “For Hay” there is a very satisfactory increase shown; but For Ensilage” the increase is not so marked. The area under “Rye-grass—For Seed” shows an increase of about 15,000 acres; but, in all probability, this will have disappeared owing to the dry weather. For “Cocksfoot Seed” the area is increased by about 13,000 acres; but at least the half of this must be taken as not cut, but grazed.

For “White Clover” the area is about the same as last year. For “Red Clover” the decrease is 1,500 acres.

Under “Other Kinds” the increase is about 1,400 acres.

GREEN CROPS, ETC.

Potatoes.—The figures for 1895–96 were 31,997 acres, and for 1896–97 29,990 acres, or a decrease of 2,007 acres. There was considerable difficulty in obtaining correct returns last year, and therefore the decrease may be more apparent than real.

Turnips.—The area for 1896–97 is given as 408,668 acres, and for 1895–96 391,558 acres: increase, 17,110 acres. The crop is reported as a partial failure in several districts. It is therefore unlikely, even with the increased area, that the same amount of feed will be available.

Mangolds.—There is a decrease of 545 acres.

Rape.—The area under this crop is given as 63,607 acres, as against 54,040 acres for the previous year: increase, 567 acres. The increased attention being paid to the fattening of lambs for export is no doubt accountable for this increase.

Beet.—Shows an increase of 440 acres, and “Other Crops” of 1,910 acres.

PLANTATIONS, ETC.

Plantations.—The total area is shown as 47,630 acres, as against 43,246 acres for 1895–96: increase, 4,384 acres.

PRIVATE AND MARKET GARDENS.

In the former there is a decrease of 906 acres, but in the latter an increase of 81 acres.

ORCHARDS.

Orchards of ¼ acre and over show a satisfactory increase.

STOCK.

Horses.—The total number in the colony is given as 248,837, or an increase of 11,039. A reference to the summary shows that the number of entire horses returned is 779 less than that given last year, and this applies to every class. Several of the classes—such as light ordinary—could with advantage be entirely done away with.

It cannot be to the advantage of anyone to use a stud animal unless it has some pretension to breeding. The lesser number seems an indication that more care is being bestowed in the selection of stud animals.

Cattle.—The total number is given as 1,139,067, or an increase of 94,321. It is gratifying to see that there is evidence of greater care being exercised in the selection of bulls. There is a substantial increase in shorthorn bulls, and a corresponding decrease in crosses. Dairy cows have increased by 25,000, and this shows that dairying has taken a firm hold.

Pigs.—The total number is given as 209,834, or a decrease of 39,943. The only way this can be accounted for is the alteration of the date in the collection of returns. The months of November, December, and January are the principal breeding months, and, as the bulk of the pigs bred in these months were included in last year’s return, it is most unlikely there is any actual decrease of pigs in the colony.

Sheep.—The total number at 30th April, 1896, the date on which the sheep returns are collected under the Stock Act, was 19,138,493, or a decrease of 688,111 for the year. The severe weather experienced in the high country during the winter of 1895 was responsible for the whole of the loss. It is fully expected that the loss will be recovered this year.

JOHN D. RITCHIE,
Secretary.