Num. 56. 1493

SUPPLEMENT
TO THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
OF
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1902.
Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1902.

‘The Agricultural and Pastoral Statistics Act, 1895.”—Actual Yields in Corn-crops, Grasses, &c., 1901-2.—Notice No. 717.

Department of Agriculture, Wellington, 10th July, 1902.

It has been exceedingly difficult to procure an accurate return of the yields this year, as the weather during the last few months has been of an exceptional nature. In the early summer very dry weather was experienced over a large portion of the colony, stunting the growth of the crops to such an extent that when the estimated yields were declared in January last it was deemed advisable to deduct 9,000 acres from the area for threshing of wheat, oats, and barley. This was added on to the area for feeding down. The long spell of dry weather was followed by heavy rain, which lasted in parts of Canterbury and Otago right through the harvest, consequently much of the wheat sprouted. A very large quantity, therefore, will be unfit for milling. The oats and barley are sound, but there will be a great deal of discoloured grain.

In the New Zealand Gazette of the 30th January, 1902, there appeared a return showing the estimated yield of wheat, oats, and barley for the colony, viz.: Wheat, 25 bushels per acre; oats, 34; and barley, 28.

The actual yields are as follow:—

Wheat .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24·76 bushels per acre.
Oats .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 37·06 "
Barley .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 32·28 "

WHEAT.

Area for threshing was 163,462 acres, at 24·76 bushels .. .. .. 4,046,589 bushels.
Amount of wheat returned on hand, 31st October, 1901 (as per returns) .. .. 3,182,007 "
Amount of wheat and flour imported from 1st November, 1901, to 28th February, 1902 1,448 "
———————
7,230,044 "

Wheat and flour exported from 1st November, 1901, to 28th February, 1902 .. .. .. 196,196 bushels.
Consumption for same period for population of 830,000, at the rate of 6 bushels per head per annum .. .. .. 1,660,000 "
———————
1,856,196 "

Leaving available for all purposes as at 28th February, 1902 .. .. .. 5,373,848 "
Estimated quantity required for seed (say 200,000 acres at 2 bushels per acre) .. .. 400,000 bushels.
Estimated consumption of 835,000 persons, at 6 bushels per head, from 1st March, 1902, to 28th February, 1903 .. .. 5,010,000 "
———————
5,410,000 "

Apparent deficit .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36,152 "

The deficit will be increased by the large amount of wheat unfit for milling.

The following figures will show how the wheat-crop of 1900-01 was disposed of up to 31st October, 1901:—

In the New Zealand Gazette of 24th June, 1901, the wheat on hand, available for all purposes, as from 28th February, 1901, was stated at.. .. .. 8,620,659 bushels.

This has been disposed of as follows:—

For seed, 167,474 acres, at 2 bushels per acre .. .. 334,948 bushels.
Consumption for population of 820,000, at 6 bushels, for eight months (28th February, 1901, to 31st October, 1901) 3,280,000 "
Wheat and flour exported from 28th February, 1901, to 31st October, 1901 2,100,347 bushels.
Less imports .. .. .. 2,189 "
———————
2,098,158 "
———————
5,713,106 "

Leaving on hand at 31st October, 1901 .. .. .. 2,907,553 "
Amount actually returned at 31st October, 1901 .. .. .. 3,182,007