✨ Agricultural Statistics
MAY. 3] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 727
GREEN CROPS, ETC.
Potatoes.—The figures for—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 36,402 acres
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 29,990 "
————————
Increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,412 "
The crop is reported only medium.
Turnips.—The area is—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 393,451 acres
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 408,668 "
————————
Decrease .. .. .. .. .. .. 15,217 "
The crop in parts of Canterbury and North Otago will be much below the average, but outside of that area is from medium to good. There will be a great scarcity of winter feed for stock, and the utmost care should be taken to husband what turnips there are.
Mangolds.—The area is—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,353 acres
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,755 "
————————
Increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,598 "
The bulk of this increase is shown in the Canterbury returns—fortunately, where most required.
Rape.—The figures are—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 77,131 acres
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 63,607 "
————————
Increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 13,524 "
Here, again, Canterbury shows the largest increase—over 10,000 acres. A great part of this, however, would be of little value for feeding, owing to the dry weather.
Beet.—The area is—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 621 acres
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 911 "
———
Decrease .. .. .. .. .. .. 290 "
In Carrots and Other Crops there is a decrease of 156 acres and 843 acres respectively.
PLANTATIONS, ETC.
Plantations.—The area is—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 52,546 acres
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 47,630 "
————————
Increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,916 "
STOCK.
Horses.—The number returned for period—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 253,227
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 250,247
————————
Increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,980
All classes of entires show a decrease with the exception of draughts, in which there is an increase of 72 animals.
Cattle.—The number returned for—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,209,165
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,138,067
————————
Increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 71,098
This shows a satisfactory increase, of which dairying can claim an increase in two classes of 28,677.
Swine.—The figures are, for—
1897–98 .. .. .. .. .. .. 186,027
1896–97 .. .. .. .. .. .. 209,834
————————
Decrease .. .. .. .. .. .. 23,807
It is somewhat difficult to account for this decrease. A reference to the summary shows that Canterbury is responsible for over 13,000 of the number, and it is presumed the dry season, and consequent high prices for grain, has caused farmers to cease keeping pigs.
Sheep.—The number returned as on hand on 30th April was—
1897 .. .. .. .. .. .. 19,687,954
1896 .. .. .. .. .. .. 19,138,493
————————
Increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 549,461
The returns for 1898 are collected at the end of this month, and it is anticipated there will be a further large increase.
JOHN D. RITCHIE,
Secretary.
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NZ Gazette 1898, No 32
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🌾
Final Agricultural Statistics for 1897-98 Including Crop Areas and Livestock Counts
(continued from previous page)
🌾 Primary Industries & Resources30 April 1898
Agriculture, Crop Statistics, Potatoes, Turnips, Mangolds, Rape, Beet, Horses, Cattle, Swine, Sheep, Canterbury, Otago, Livestock
- John D. Ritchie, Secretary