1909.] Agricultural Returns of 1909. 



573 



hops. Potatoes show an increase of over 13,000 acres, or 

 2'4 per cent., an almost identical increase to that shown in 

 1908, and the loss of 17,000 acres noted in 1907 has now 

 been more than recovered. The area under turnips and 

 swedes, which has decreased almost continuously for many 

 years past, shows a small recovery of nearly 5,000 acres. 

 The area devoted to mangold shows a substantial increase 

 of 29,000 acres, or 67 per cent., and is the largest figure ever 

 returned. Vetches or tares have also increased by 10,000 

 acres, or 8 per cent., and lucerne again exhibits a small 

 increase, so that its total is the highest ever recorded. 



The area under small fruit has steadily increased since 1897, 

 and this year there is a further increase of 2,200 acres, or 

 over 2\ per cent. Hops have declined by over 6,000 acres, 

 or over 16 per cent. 



The green and other crops are summarised in the following 

 table : — 



Crop. 



1909. 



1908. 



Increase or Decrease. 





Acres. 



Acres. 



Acres. 



Per cent. 



Potatoes ... 



575>46i 



562,105 



+ 13,356 



+ 2-4 



Turnips and Swedes 



1,555,542 



i,55o,897 



+ 4,645 



+ 0-3 



Mangolds 



456,496 



427,772 



+ 28,724 



+ 67 



Cabbage and kohl-rabi... 



84,588 



86,372 



- 1,784 



- 2'I 



Rape 



87,443 



86,495 



+ 948 



+ II 



Vetches or tares.. . ... 



136,245 



126,083 



+ 10,162 



+ 8-i 



Lucerne 



65,327 



65,156 



+ 171 



+ 0-3 



Hops 



32,539 



38,921 



- 6,382 



-164 



Small fruit 



87,116 



84,880 



+ 2,236 



+ 2-6 



Other crops 



123,094 



115,402 



+ 7,692 



+ 67 



The area returned as reserved for hay, whether permanent 

 or rotation grass, shows a substantial decline, amounting in 

 all to nearly 370,000 acres. Of the area for grazing, there 

 has been a decline of some 10,000 acres among the clover 

 and rotation grasses, but permanent grass has increased by 

 209,000 acres. 



Among live-stock, horses, cattle, and sheep have each in- 

 creased, but pigs show a considerable decline. From the 

 next table it will be seen that there has been a slight increase, 

 amounting to ri per cent., in the number of horses used for 

 agricultural purposes (including mares kept for breeding), 

 but that, on the other hand, there have been small decreases 



