The total yield in each state for the period covered by the preceding table was as follows:

The average yields per acre in each state in 1903, and during the ten years 1894-1903 are shown below :—

In all the provinces which grow oats to any extent, with the exception of Tasmania, the yield last year was above the decennial average. New Zealand had the high average of 38-6 bushels per acre, which compares very favourably with the averages which prevailed during 1894-1903 in the following principal oat-growing countries of the world:

The average value of the oats crop and the return per acre, in each of the Commonwealth states and New Zealand, for 1903, will be found below:

Value per acre.
£8.

State.

Value.

£

d.

The net import or export of oats by each of the states is given in the following table. New Zealand was the only province which exported this cereal to any considerable extent in 1903, although Tasmania and South Australia also exported small quantities. Owing to the late war

in South Africa, a large demand for oats as horse-feed was created, and for the year ended 31st March, 1903, no less than 3,988,000 bushels of oats, valued at £511,558, were exported to that country by New Zealand alone. With the termination of the war the trade has, of course, decreased, but during the following year 1,335,972 bushels, valued at £116,909, were despatched. The total export of oats from New Zealand amounted to £453,702, of which a quantity valued at over £77,000 was sent to New South Wales. Tasmania also took advantage of the shortage on the mainland, and exported oats to the value of £90,885, of which an amount of £75,266 was consigned to New South Wales.

In ordinary years the Commonwealth produces sufficient oats for its own consumption, and has a fair quantity available for export.

According to a carefully-compiled estimate of the average production in the principal countries growing oats throughout the world, the yield of this grain in 1903 was as follows :--

Maize is one of the most important products of New South Wales and Queensland. In the other states the climate is not suited to its growth, and the cultivation of the cereal extends to only about 23,000 acres. The following figures show that fair progress has been made since 1861 in the area devoted to this crop :

The production in the same years was as follows:

:

It will be seen from the tables given above that although there has been an increase in cultivation amounting to over 90,000 acres since 1891, the production has only increased by some 700,000 bushels.

The following table shows the average yield of each state and of Australasia for 1903, and for the ten years ended 1903 :—

The averages for Victoria and New Zealand are of little value, as the area under maize in those provinces is small and very favourably situated; while Western Australia, during the period, has never had more than 250 acres under this crop-the average yield for ten years being less than 17 bushels per acre under cultivation.

The value of the crop for 1903, and the average return per acre, will be found below:

The net import or export of maize by each state during 1903 was as

follows:

Of the maize imported by New South Wales and Queensland, over 1,250,000 bushels, valued at £188,000, were shipped by the Argentine Republic.

It is rather curious that the only state which imports maize to any extent is New South Wales, where it is principally grown. In Australasia, this grain does not enter into consumption as an article of food as it does in other countries, and particularly in America, which produces and consumes nearly 80 per cent. of the whole maize crop of the world. The following statement shows the world's production of maize during the past two years :

1903. Quarters, ooo's omitted.

1902. Quarters, ooo's omitted

In 1901, owing to the low yields in the United States, the world's production of maize was the smallest in recent records. This shortage was responsible for a marked decrease during 1902 in the American exports of bacon and hams, the exports to Great Britain alone showing a decline of 150,000,000 lb. on the figures of the previous year. In 1903 the yield in the States was again comparatively low.

BARLEY.

Of the cereal productions of Australasia, barley is grown on the The area under this crop at different periods was as

smallest acreage.

follows:

It will be seen that in New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia the acreage shows a marked increase since 1891. This is especially the case in Queensland, which has now nearly 23,000 acres under barley, as compared with less than 1,000 acres in 1891. The increase during the period for the Commonwealth was nearly 100 per cent.