Agriculture in Queensland. 



367 



New Zealand, which averaged nearly 23 bushels. Wheat 

 cultivation is, however, at present practically confined to the 

 southern portion of the colony to the west of the Great 

 Dividing Range. 



The production of wheat was not nearly sufficient for the 

 home requirements, and wheat was imported to the extent ot 

 360,419 bushels in 1897, and 863,469 bushels in 1896; there were 

 also 3 1,700 and 32,996 tons of flour imported in these two years ; 

 thus the total importation of flour and grain is estimated to 

 have been equivalent to 2,315,293 bushels of wheat in 1896, 

 and to 1,755,219 bushels in 1897. The home produce 

 therefore constituted 21 per cent, of the total supply in 1896, 

 and 37 per cent, in 1897. 



The only other cultivated cereal of importance is maize, of 

 which there were 109,721 acres sown in 1897, with a yield of 

 2,803,172 bushels. The exports of this grain are inconsider- 

 able. The production of oats amounted to 3 1,496 bushels, 

 and the total consumption to 119,223 bushels. 



The area under sugar-cane was 98,641 acres in 1897, but the 

 produce of 65,432 acres only was crushed. 



The following table shows the number of live stock in the 

 colony in 1896 and 189^ : — 



1896. 1897. 



Horses . - - - 452,207 479,280 



Cattle - - - - 6,507,377 6,089,013 



Sheep - - - - 19,593,696 17,797,883 



Pigs - - - - 97,434 110,855 



As will be seen, the decrease in the number of cattle 

 amounted to over 400,000 ; this loss was due to excessively 

 dry weather throughout the south-westerly and westerly 

 portions of the colony. Loss was also caused by tick-fever 

 in the more easterly districts, but the mortality from this 

 cause was not nearly so severe as that resulting from drought 

 in the dry regions. Notwithstanding decreases in the 

 number of cattle during the past three years, there were 

 1,615,297 more cattle in the colony in 1897 than ten years 

 previously. The number of cattle exported alive was 

 176,329, whilst 259,363 were slaughtered and exported, either 

 in the form of frozen or preserved beef, extract, etc., or of 

 tallow and hides. The number of cattle imported is very 

 small, but during the past two years larger imports of stud 



