Num. 56.

1185

SUPPLEMENT

TO THE

NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE

OF

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1898.

Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, JULY 26, 1898.

"The Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics Act, 1895."—Acreage and Actual Yields in Corn-crops, 1897–98.—Notice No. 516.

Department of Agriculture, Wellington, 20th July, 1898.

IN the New Zealand Gazette of the 27th January and the Supplement of the 28th April last there appeared in the former an interim return giving an estimate of the yields of wheat, oats, and barley, with the acreage under cereals, and in the latter the complete returns of all crops, as also number of horses, cattle, and pigs, at 15th November, and sheep at 30th April, 1897.

Last year a deduction was made from the areas under wheat, oats, and barley, owing to the drought, and unfortunately it has been necessary to do so again this season. The only portion of the colony not affected was the southern part of Otago and Southland: here there was too much rain, which was accompanied in early spring by cold winds. The crops were therefore extremely backward, and considerable areas intended for grain did not ripen sufficiently, and have been cut for chaffing.

In the interim return the wheat crop was estimated to yield 21 bushels to the acre, but the actual threshing returns show it to be 17·95 bushels. The difference is partly accounted for through damage caused by a heavy nor’-wester which blew for several days shortly after the estimate was made; otherwise it would have been found very close.

The area under wheat is 315,801 acres; actual yield, 17·95 bushels per acre .. 5,670,017 bushels
Old wheat on hand at 15th November, 1897 .. .. .. .. .. 1,149,661 „
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6,819,678 „
Estimated imported from 15th November to 15th February .. .. .. 2,194 „
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6,821,872 „

Estimated exported (including wheat and flour) from 15th November to 15th February .. .. .. 48,000 bushels
Consumption for same period on a population of 768,901, at 6 bushels per head per annum .. .. .. 1,153,351 „
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1,201,351 „

Available for all purposes as from 15th February, 1898 .. .. .. 5,620,521 „
Estimated quantity required for seed (say 350,000 acres, at 2 bushels per acre) .. .. .. 700,000 bushels
Consumption, 771,567 at 6 bushels per head .. .. .. 4,629,402 „
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5,329,402 „

Apparent surplus .. .. .. .. .. .. 291,119 „

It will be seen that there is practically no wheat available for export, either in the shape of grain or flour; but it is just possible that the estimated consumption of 6 bushels per head is somewhat high.

The yields of oats, barley, and rye are also considerably reduced.

Maize: There is an increase of 2,303 acres in the area grown this year. The crop in Whakatane and Tauranga Counties suffered severely through frosts during February, and considerable damage was done. Very little maize has yet been threshed; therefore an estimate of the yield only is given.

The area under rye-grass shows a decrease of 6,651 acres, compared with that of last year. The average yield per acre, however, is somewhat higher—say 21·31 bushels, as against 19·94 bushels. The total yield is 749,603 bushels, to which must be added 136,866 bushels on hand at date of return, or a total of 886,469 bushels for the period from the 15th November, 1897.

The area under cocksfoot shows an increase of 9,018 acres; the yield being 151 lb. per acre, as against 168 lb. last year. The total yield is 8,873,723 lb., and the quantity of old seed on hand 2,117,075 lb., or a total of 10,990,798 lb. for the same period.

There is an increase of 6,412 acres under potatoes, but the yield per acre is less than last season—say 4·95 tons, as against 5·25 tons. The total yield is 180,333 tons, or an increase of 22,804 tons.

JOHN D. RITCHIE,
Secretary for Agriculture.