1908.] Agricultural Returns of 1908. 



425 



or nearly 2 \ per cent., thus recovering most of the loss of 

 17,000 acres noted last year. The area under turnips and 

 swedes, which has decreased almost continuously for many 

 years past, shows a decline of 12,000 acres, and is the 

 smallest on record. The area devoted to mangold, which, 

 on the other hand, has increased in recent years, has now 

 declined by over 22,000 acres, or 5 per cent. Vetches or tares 

 show the largest decline, both actual and relative, in this group, 

 and the decrease of 28,000 acres, or over 18 per cent., brings 

 the area under this crop to the lowest figure since the returns 

 were first collected. Lucerne shows an increase of 1,400 acres, 

 or rather more than 2 per cent., and the figure for this crop is 

 the highest recorded. 



The area under Small Fruit has steadily increased since 1897, 

 and this year there is a further increase of 2,700 acres, or over 

 3 per cent. Hops, on the other hand, have declined almost 

 regularly since 1885, and now exhibit a further decrease of no 

 less than 6,000 acres, or nearly 13J per cent. Cabbage and 

 kohl-rabi, rape, and the aggregate of minor crops, have also 

 declined considerably. 



The green and other crops are summarised in the following 

 table : — 



Crop. 



1908. 



1907. 



Increase or 



Decrease. 





Acres. 



Acres. 



Acres. 



Per cent. 



Potatoes 



562,105 



548,920 



+ 13,185 



+ 2*4 



Turnips and swedes 



1,550,897 



1,562,978 



- I2,o8t 



- o-8 



Mangold 



427,772 



450.053 



- 22,281 



- 5*o 



Cabbage and kohl-rabi 



86,375 



95,583 



9,208 



9-6 



Rape 



86,495 



91,272 



4,777 



- 5'2 



Vetches or tares 



126,083 



154,056 



- 27,973 



- I8'2 



Lucerne 



65,157 



63,795 



+ 1,362 



+ 2-1 



Hops 



38,916 



44,938 



6,022 



13*4 



Small fruit 



84,873 



82,175 



+ 2,698 



+ 3*3 



Other crops 



115.405 



121,868 



- 6,463 



5'3 



The area returned as reserved for hay shows on the whole a 

 decline of less than 5,000 acres, an increase of over 13,000 acres 

 in the case of permanent grass being more than counter- 

 balanced by a decrease in the case of clover and rotation grasses. 

 Of the area for grazing there has been a decline of more than 

 51,000 acres among the clover and rotation grasses, but per- 

 manent grass has increased by nearly 125,000 acres. 



