482 



Joiifjial of Agriculture 



[10 Aug., 1909. 



That is, the yield has been maintained, although cultivation has been 

 pushed into much less favorable districts than formerlv both of soil and 

 climate. 



Another ^■ery satisfactory feature is the steadv advance in the total 



yield of the oat crop. Previous to 1900, a 5,000,000 bushel crop was 

 attained on four occasions only, whereas during the last ten years the 

 average has been nearly 9,000,000 bushels, fluctuating, however, consider- 

 ably from vear to year. 



WHEAT AND HAY PRODUCTION, 

 1900-1908. 



OATS AND POTATOES, 

 I9OO-1908. 



So much for cultivation. In live stock, a similar tale is told. In 

 horses, the number reached 280,000 by 1880, rose to 436,000 in 1890, and 

 has fluctuated between that figure and 370,000 ever since. At the present 

 time it stands at 424,000. With cattle, including dairy cows, the number 

 registered is 1,286,000 in 1880; 1,782,000 in 1890, and has remained 

 practically at the same figure ever since, the latest returns showing a slight 

 reduction on account of the drought experienced in 1908. 



In sheep, the 10,000,000 was re:iched in 1870. The number was slightlv 

 less in 1880; it increased to 12,700,000 in 1890; fell again to 10,000,000 

 in the early years of the present century, and slowlv recovered to a maxi- 

 mum of 14,000,000 in 1907. A slight reduction has again taken place. 



Swine reached a maximum of 350.000 in the ye.ar 1901. Thev are now 

 at about 100,000 less, standing at the same figure which was registered' 

 in 1880. 



The historv of the luitter trade strikingly bears out the want of steady 

 progress in Victorian agriculture. From its inception in 1890 the eJ^Diort 

 increased to 10,000 tons in four years, remained stationary for the nex;1} 

 five, years, then increased to 17,000 tons, rapidly declined to 8,000 tons 

 in 1903, slowly increased to 22,000 tons in 1907, and has now fallen back 

 lo the i)osition it occupied sixteen years ago. 



