Reports on Foreign Crops. 



529 



ments, but that there is a small surplus. It is, however, 

 considered questionable, taking the stocks on hand into con- 

 sideration, whether the surplus available for export will be as 

 large as appears at first sight, as there is a good deal of 

 inferior wheat from the present harvest. The following 

 statement shows the area and production of wheat during the 



last five years : — 



\^ear. 



Total area 

 under Wheat. 



Area cut 

 for Grain. 



Area cut 

 for Hay. 



Total yield 

 of Wheat. 



1893- 94 



1894- 95 



1895- 96 



1896- 97 

 * 1 897-98 



Acres. 

 695,685 

 773,280 

 769,298 

 1,027,248 

 1,191,309 



Acres. 



593,810 



647,483 



596,684 



866,112 



938,251 



Acres. 

 101,875 



125,797 

 172,614 

 161,136 

 253,058 



Bushels. 

 6,502,715 

 7,041,378 

 5,i95,3'2 

 8,853,445 

 9,745,377 



Estimated. 



Crops and Live Stock in the Cape Colony. 

 The Board have received the Agricultural and Live Stock 

 Returns of the Cape of Good Hope, which show the results of 

 the harvest in the Cape Colony in the year 1896-97. The 

 following tables give the yield of the principal crops in the 

 colony proper, together with the numbers of live stock during 

 the last three years. 



A quantity of barley, rye, wheat, and oats were cut green. 



Crops. 



1896-97. 



1895-96. 



1894-95. 





Bushels. 



Bushels. 



Bushels. 



Wheat - - - - 



2,069,037 



2,131,710 



2,413,152 



Barley - - - - 



760,395 



662,199 



658,332 



Oats - - - - 



881,643 



1,629,336 



956,706 



Rye . - - . 



254,220 



606,303 



431,562 



Maize - - - - 



1,231,020 



649,182 



1,347,789 



Potatoes- 



904,788 



714,903 



759,213 





lbs. 



lbs. 



lbs. 



Tobacco 



6,156,505 



4,295,798 



4,720,903 



. Horses •- 



Cattle - - - - 

 Sheep - 



Pigs - . - - 

 Goats - - - - 



No. 



235,268 

 1,231,147 

 11,851,477 

 153,240 

 4,397,535 



No. 



242,099 

 1,228,469 

 12,274,279 

 154,076 

 4,155,418 



No. 



254,298 

 1,303,061 

 13,726,841 

 169,205 

 4,314,337 



1. L 



