TnE Secretary for Agriculture, report ing on the agricultural yields for 1899 1900 and 1900-1901, indicates that the yield of wheat has decreased by 2,054,744 bushels. Oats show an in crease of 2,760,005 bushels, and other products show a decrease as follows: — Barley 557.494 bushels, rye 21,045 bush els, maize 167,199 bushels, peas 26,879 bushels, beans 15,524 bushels, rye grass 517,776 bushels, cocksfoot 3,625,1421 b, and potatoes 53.C52 tons. The appar ent surplus of wheat at the end of Feb ruary was 5,560,000 bushels. 'Iheareaof wheat continues to decrease -rapidly, and unless the price materially in creases a further reduction may be looked for. There is a considerable in crease both in area and yield of oats, the export .of which amounted to 6,208,794 bushels, valued at £565,649, aiiw more than half of which was sent tj South Africa. Touching on other matters, Mr Ritchie remarks that the work done at the several experimental stations has been varied and useful. There is a marked interest being taken in the fruit industry generally. The results of the poultry branch of the Department have been most .encourag ing. The season for dairying ,was a most favourable one so far, as abund ance of grass for the cows was con cerned, but the- cold winds prevailing ii spring and summer were against the yield of milk. As to the export of meat, the returns showed a decrease of 275,361 carcases of mutton 'and an increase of 57,558 cwt. of beef. The export of lamb increased by 80,924 carcases. The total, increase of sheep for the year was 831,589, and the number in the colony on 30th April was 20,186,784. Only once before (in. 1894) has the number of sheep in the colony reached over 20,000,000. The number of cattle re turned at 31st October, 1900, was 1,256,680," the net increase for the year being 34,549. The increase of horses was 4,335.
