358 



Agriculture in Nicaragua. 



area. In 1877 it was 6*62 per cent., but in 1867 it amounted 

 to 12*7 per cent. 



The yield per acre in 1897 (23*93 stones) is within a small 

 fraction of that of 1896, which was 24 stones per statute 

 acre. The average yields range from 1 5 stones in Fermanagh 

 to almost 29 stones in Antrim. 



The total production in 1 897 was a little under 7,000 tons, 

 i.e., 4,000 tons, or 37*1 per cent, less than in 1896, as shown 

 in the following table : — 



Province. 



Area under Flax. 



Produce per Acre. 



Total Produce. 





Acres. 



Stones. 



Tons. 



Ulster - - - - 



45,229 



23-90 



6,757 



Munster 



85 



28-16 



15 



Leinster 



67 



28-10 



12 



Connaught - 



195 



28-03 



34 



Total 



45,576 



23-93 



6,818 



The yield of 6,818 tons was about one-fifth of the total 

 required for the linen industry. Of the other four-fifths 

 Russia supplied by far the largest quantity, but the supply of 

 the medium and finer qualities came chiefly from Belgium 

 and Holland. In this connection it is interesting to note 

 that arrangements have been made for an experienced 

 Belgian grower to reside near Ballymena, for the purpose of 

 advising farmers as to the Belgian methods of preparing the 

 land, etc., and the system of pulling, watering, drying, and 

 scutching the flax. It is proposed also to obtain the services 

 of a foreign expert in the Coleraine district. 



Agriculture in Nicaragua. 



The Board of Agriculture have received from the Phila- 

 delphia Commercial Museum a pamphlet giving some infor- 

 mation relating to the position of agriculture in the State of 

 Nicaragua. It seems that the principal agricultural product of 

 that country is coffee, which is extensively grown, as the 

 Government encourages its cultivation by paying a premium 



