862 



Agricui /ruR a l Return s . 



[Dec 



Wheat is the only corn cro]) to give an over-average yield, the yield per 

 acre being estimated at 31-1 bushels, or nearly half a bushel above the average 

 of the ten years 1912-21, but more than 4 bushels below the record crop of 

 last year. Most eastern coimties obtained appreciably heavier yields than 

 usual, Norfolk being an outstanding exception. The total production is 

 estimated at 7,r»4'J,00() quarters, or 1,070,000 quarters less than in 11)21, but 

 700,000 ([uarters greater than the pre war average. The total production of 

 barley, 5,0(50,000 (piarters, is 250,000 tpuirters less than last year and, apart 

 from 1915, is the smallest recorded since official returns were first collected in 

 1885. The yield per acre is estimated at 29*7 bushels, or practically the same 

 as in 1921^ and about Ij bushels pei' acre below average. Counties in which 

 fen land predominates secured better crops than usual, but under-average 

 yields were the rule in practically all other counties. The yield per acre of 

 oats, 84*4 bushels, is 4 bushels per acre below the ten-year average. This 

 yield per acre is also slightly under the lowest previously recorded. Yields 

 were relatively the worst in Norfolk, Shropshire, Derby, and Stafford, but in 

 hardly any counties were they up to average. The total production of 

 ■9,281,000 quarters is the smallest since 1912, and 750.000 quarters less than 

 in 1921. Mixed Corn yielded 32*9 l)ushels per acre, and the total production 

 ■of 509,000 quarters is some 60,000 (juarters less than last year. As a result 

 of the increased acreage, the total production of beans, 839,000 quarters, is 

 ()0,000 quarters greater than in 1921, in spite of a poorer crop. The yield of 

 24'7 bushels [)er acre is Iv, bushels less than last year, and 2^ bushels below 

 average. Peas are by far the worst crop on record, the yield per acre being 

 estimated at only 17 bushels, or 7f bushels below the ten-year average, and 

 1;,' bushels less than the previous lowest in 1885. The total production of 

 261,000 quarters is 52,000 quarters less than last year, and lower than in any 

 year, except 1916 when practically a similar total crop was obtained from an 

 area about 30 per cent. less. 



The growth of hay was retarded by the cold, dry spring, and much of the 

 seeds was a thin plant as a result of the drought of 1921, so that hay crops 

 were also very unsatisfactory. "Most of the seeds hay was secured in good 

 • condition, but the bulk of the meadow hay was more or less weathered, and 

 the quality of a fair proportion was iuqiaired owing to delay in cutting. Seeds 

 hay gave a total crop of only 1,732,000 tons, which is the smallest production 

 since 1893, and about 400,000 tons less than in 1921. The yield per acre of 

 22-7 cwt., is If cwt. less than last year, and 5| cwt. below the ten-year 

 average. It will be understood that these figures apply to the area of seeds 

 actually cut for hay, and take no account of the area of seeds ploughed up. 

 Yields were very light in practically every county, though they were relatively 

 better in the north and in Wales than in other parts of the country. Meadow 

 hay yielded better than last year, being estimated at 18-4 cwt. per acre, 

 against 15-8 cwt. in 1921, but still some 3 cwt. per acre below average. The 

 acreage was greater than in 1921, so that the total production of 4,068,000 

 tons shows a welcome increase of 870,000 tons. The total ({uantity of hay 

 produced this year is therefore about 5,800,000 tons, or 460,000 tons more 

 than in 1921, but still some 1,500,000 tons below the average of the ten 

 years, 1912-21. 



The estimates of the potato and root crops will be issued later in the year. 



