Agricultural Statistics for 1908. [april, 



normally involves a decline in the number of holdings, though 

 it is possible for it to be counterbalanced by the subdivision 

 of farms in other districts. During the past year, however, 

 there has been some diminution, of which details are given, 

 together with some additional information bearing on the 

 question of occupying ownership. 



The remainder of Mr. Rew's report in Part I. refers chiefly 

 to the changes in the acreage of crops and number of live 

 stock, and the volume also contains the usual detailed par- 

 ticulars for each county and other summary tables. 



The report in Part II. refers to the accuracy of the state- 

 ments as to the prospects of the crops which were issued in 

 July, August, and September, and deals among other points 

 with the weather of 1908, the duration of the harvest, the 

 straw crop, and the weight of grain per bushel. The produce 

 of the crops is compared with earlier years and illustrated by 

 diagrams. 



Value of the Produce. — An estimate is made as to the 

 value of the produce. This, as has been previously pointed 

 out, cannot be measured with any degree of precision, 

 and it is only possible to give figures which supply a com- 

 parison of one year with another on a basis which, although 

 hypothetical, being the same in each year, affords a fairly 

 reliable indication of the monetary results of different 

 harvests. The method adopted is to value the total corn 

 crops at the average Gazette prices returned during the four 

 months September to December, and the total potato and 

 hay crops at prices compiled from the Boards weekly return 

 of market prices. Thus calculated, the comparison of the 

 results of 1908 with those of 1907 appears as follows : — 



Crop. 



1907. 



1908. 



Total 

 Produce. 



Value. 



Total 

 Produce. 



Value. 





Qrs. 



£ 



Qrs. 



£ 



Wheat 



6,900,774 



11,703,000 



6,566,892 



10,370,000 



Barley 



7,546,273 



9,967,000 



6,840,055 



9,177,000 



Oats 



16,799,015 



15,259,000 



15,453,404 



13,264,000 





Tons. 





Tons. 





Potatoes 



2,977,485 



12,133,000 



3,917,618 



9,892,000 



Clover, &c. Hay 



3,709,977 



15,211,000 



3,506,784 



12,712,000 



Meadow Hay 



6,719,257 



25,197,000 



6,213,355 



19, ic6, 000 



