THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2168, 26 August 1907, Page 1

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARISES FARMERS’ YEAR. THE SCARCITY OF WHEAT AND FLO UR EXPLAINED. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, August 23. : The fifteenth annual report of mis department was presented to Parliament to-day. Tlio report states that in the North Island generally tlio season has been the most' bounteous within the experience of settlers although in some localities there was a superabundance of rain. In the South Isi null most of .the agricultural districts of Canterbury and North and Central Otago were under the influence uf a drought for tlio greater part of the rear. Cereals wore very detrimentally effected, many crops being fed off by stock as not worth cutting, and others also being grazed -owing to the scarcity of grass and fodder crops. It was estimated that of the 210,018 acres sown in wheat in these districts 5000 acres were not harvested, and of 175,701 acres of oats for threshing 21,000 acres produced a similar result. The rainfall up to the present time has been insufficient to enable the desired quantity of land to be prepared for crops, while feed for stock is extremely scarce. Tile situation is thus causing acute anxiet- to settlers. In Southland the season has been most favorable, and settlers are able to afford relief to those in the north bv .receiving large numbers of slice]) for grazing, and also by sending supplies of roots to the less favored ‘districts.

There was undoubtedly a large increase upon the normal consumption of breadstuffs during the year under review, partly owing to the scarcity and high prices of potatoes and*partly to the great number of travellers during tlie International Exhibition period. Consequently the current cereal year (Match to February) was entered upon with a very small balance of old stock of wheat, and this year’s harvest, diminished as- it has been by the effects of tlio drought, will do little more than supply requirements until the next harvest. It’ is a question, adds the report, whether 0 bushels per head of the population is not too low an estimate of the annual consumption of wheat for human and stock food in New Zealand. There is no doubt that- the standard of living ill this colony is very high, and also that the feeding of poultry absorbs a large quantity of wheat.