Parliamentary Publications. 



123 



compared respectively with ^33,442 and ^6,290 in the previous 



Agricultural Statistics , Ireland. — Tables showing the Extent in 

 statute acres and the Produce of the Crops for the Year 1898. 

 \_C. 9004.] Price i\d. 

 The area and produce of the principal crops in Ireland in 

 1898 are given as follows : — 





Area. 



Production. > 



1898. 



1897. 



1898. 



1S97. 





Acres. 



Acres. 



Cwts. 



Cwts. 



Wheat - 



52,798 



47,235 



994,5 J 3 



726,021 



Oats - 



1,165,359 



1,175,118 



18,684,258 



16,264,733 



Barley and Bere 



158,161 



170,652 



2,981,637 



2,589,013 



Rye 



12,389 



13,058 



157,968 



141,593 









Tons. 



Tons. 



Potatoes 



664,864 



677,216 



2,942,263 



1,498,416 



Turnips 



306,920 



308,966 



5,162,886 



4,133,585 



Mangel Wurzel 



55,955 



54,649 



1,009,573 



751,056 



and Beet Root 











Flax - 



34,469 



45,537 



6,724 



7,272 



Hay : Clover 



652,040 



637,128 



1,527,630 



1,434,686 



and Rotation 









Grasses 











Hay : Permanent - 



1,522,430 



i,539,oi4 



3,749,993 



3,653,231 



Pasture 











The acreage under wheat is larger than in 1897 by 5,563 

 acres, but that of the other chief crops showed a decline, with 

 the exception of the area under clover, sainfoin, and rotation 

 grasses, which increased by 14,912 acres. The production, 

 however, as will be seen from the above table, was in all 

 cases, except flax, greater than in the preceding year. 



With regard to the potato crop, the acreage was 75,000 

 acres below the average for the 10 years 1888-97, and 12,352 

 acres less than in 1897. Of the total area under this crop 

 465,731 acres, or 70 per cent., are returned as occupied by the 

 " Champion " variety. For 12 years from 1883 to 1894 this 

 variety occupied from 78 to 80 per cent, of the potato acreage, 

 but since the year 1891, when it stood at 797 per cent, it has 

 steadily declined, so that whilst the total acreage has fallen 

 by 88,468 acres, the area under this particular variety has 

 decreased by no less than 134,672 acres. 



