6i6 



Produce of Crops. 



[NOV., 



10 per cent, in the case of wheat and oats and 15 per cent, in the case of linseed. 

 It is still expected, however, that the wheat crop will equal that of last season. 



New South Wales. — The preliminary official estimate {Dornbusch, 23rd October) of 

 the harvest in New South Wales put the yield at from 18 to 20 million bushels, 

 " provided the present favourable weather conditions continue." 



Wheat Cultivation in Western Australia. — The return of crops and live stock in 

 Western Australia for the season 1907-08 shows that the cultivation of wheat has 

 rapidly expanded during the last ten years, the area having increased from 75,032 

 acres, with a production of 870,909 bushels (an average of 11 "6 bushels per acre), in 

 1898-99, to 250,000 acres, with a production of 2,758,567 bushels (11 bushels per 

 acre), in 1906-07, and 281,000 acres, producing 2,933,350 bushels l(io* 5 bushels per 

 acre), in 1907-08. The Government Statistician estimates that the surplus available 

 for export of the last wheat harvest amounted to 693,317 bushels. 



South Australia. — The Board of Trade Correspondent at Adelaide (Mr. J. 

 Creswell) reported early in September that favourable rains had occurred and that a 

 good harvest was practically assured. {Board of Trade Journal, 8th October, 1908.) 



Hop Crop in the United States. — In its final report on the hop crop of 1908 the 

 American Agriculturist of 26th September, 1908, states that the season has been the 

 most unsatisfactory and discouraging for many years. Owing to the very low prices 

 obtainable, many growers, particularly on the Pacific coast, abandoned their acreage 

 in order to devote their energy and capital to more remunerative undertakings. 



The 1908 crop is estimated at 240,000 bales (386,000 cwts.) as against about 

 300,000 bales (477,000 cwts.) in 1907, and about 365,000 bales (568,000 cwts.) in 

 1906, or a decrease of 20 per cent, and 35 per cent, respectively. The decrease 

 would appear to be mainly due to the fact that the area actually brought to harvest is 

 some 6,000 to 7,000 acres less than last year on the Pacific coast, and 3,000 acres less 

 in New York. The actual yield is variable, but on the whole a little below average. 

 Reports from the West unanimously insist that growers are going out of the business 

 owing to the extremely bad prices. Renters with limited resources have found 

 difficulty in paying the pickers ; banks are slow to loan money on a crop which 

 deteriorates so badly after the first season, and speculators will only make contracts 

 lor future delivery at very low figures. "It is evidently a case of over-production.''" 

 The downward trend of prices has been almost constant, and certainly very serious, 

 since the high level of 1903-4. At that time New York prices were as high as 

 32 cents per lb. (£7 gs. \d. per cwt.), and Pacific coast 28 cents (£6 10s. Sd. per 

 cwt). In September of this year quite general prices were 11 to 12 and 7 to 8 cents 

 {£2 us. \d. to £2 16s., and £1 12s. Sd. to£i ijs. qd. per cwt.) respectively. 



In the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1908, nearly 23,000,000 lb. (205,000 cwts.) of 

 hops were exported from the United States, but at an average value of only 13 cents 

 per lb. (^3 os. Sd. per cwt.) as compared with 21 cents (£4 iSs. per cwt.) in 1907, 

 when, however, the quantity exported was only 17,000,000 lb. (152,000 cwt.). The 

 1908 exports have absorbed some of the accumulated surplus, and an important 

 feature of the situation is the reduction of the stocks of old hops in this country. The 

 amount on hand is apparently not enough to have much influence on prices, especially 

 as much of it is two or three years old, and therefore of little intrinsic value. 



From Oregon, picking is reported to have commenced with contract pi ices at 

 7 cents to 11 cents per lb. {£1 12s. Sd. to £2 lis. <\d. per cwt), the hops being 

 average quality, but many yards attacked with red spider. The Californian crop, as 

 a whole, shows a relatively larger volume than further north, but the same discourage- 

 ment and poor profits are apparent. In New York the relatively better prices have 

 been offset by a lower yield per acre. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have issued the following preliminary 

 statement showing the estimated total produce and yield per acre of the Coin. Pulse, 

 and Hay Crops in Great Britain in the year 1908, with 

 Produce Of Crops. comparisons for 1907, and the average yield per acre 

 of the ten years 1898- 1907. 



