The Irish standard., 1912-06-15
Report of Department of Agricul-
ture Says Yield is Good and
Prices are Reasonable.
Smaller Acreage of Grain in 1911
Than in 1910, But a Better
Average Crop.
A Large Increase Noticeable in
the Acreage Under Flax--the
Yield Fair.

The department of Agriculture and
Technical Instruction for Ireland has
just presented to Parliament return
showing the prices of crops, live
stock and other Irish agricultural
products for 1911. The report states
that, taking everything into account,
it may be said that the level Of the
prices of Irish agricultural products
in 1911 was very favorable as COM
pared with recent years, but, as stat
ed above, the purchasing power of
money has fallen considerably since
1896. Comparing the prices recorded
for 1911 with those for 1910, it is
found that some have increased,
while others have decreased. There
was rise in the price Of wheat, oats,
barley, potatoes; store cattle, one year
old; store cattle. two years old;
springers, lambs; butter and eggs;
but fall in the price of hay, grass
seeds, flax, store cattle, three years
old; store sheep, one year old; store
sheep, two years old; beef, mutton,
pork and wool.
The area sown for wheat in 1911
was only 45.o5e acres. as against A.
e31 in 1910. and though the average
yield was higher t1s.7 cwts. per sta
tute acre as against 1913 cwts. in
191c) the total produce showed a de-
crease from 919,384 cwts. in 1910 to
8s7,18s cwts. in 1911. The quality,
however, of the 1911 grain was very
superior. Sales of the new grain
commenced in the third week of Au-
gust, the prices realized being con-
siderably higher than in 1910. The
yearly average price for 1911 amount
ed to Is SID, as against Is Old in
1910, and was considerably above the
average during the past twenty
years, and was never exceeded in any
Of these years except 1907, 1908 and
1909.
The area sown with oats and the
average yield per acre in 1911 was
smaller than in 1910. The area de-
creased from 1,073.69o acres in 1910
to 1,040,185 in 1911, the yield from
17.5 cwts. per acre to 1853 cwts., and
the total produce from 1871, 494 cwts
to 16,916,416 cWts. The crop, how
ever, was excellent in color and con-
dition, and realized very satisfactory
prices. The average price of oats
(white and black) for the year was
IS 2Ad per cwt., and was never ex.
ceeded in any year since 1893. TAX
ing the average for the year 1911, the
price of white oats amounts to 6s
Sd, as compared with a like average
of IS 10d in 1910, and of IS I'd for the
ten yearly periods, 19oO-19o9. The
average for the year 1911 for blacl
oats was 5s 11Nd. as compared will
IS 2Nd in 1910, and IS SID for tht
ten yearly period, 19oo-19Os.
The area under barley in Ireland ii
1911 was 15s,1so acres, as agains
16S,00S acres in 1910. The average
yield per acre, however, was consid
erably higher-being 1872 cwts. IL
1911, as compared with 17.5 cwts il
1910; and accordingly. though tn.
area under the crop was smaller, thu
total produce showed a satisfactor,
increase, being 3,042,23s cwts. in 1911
as against 2,934,1O4 cwts. in 1910
The quality of the crop, also was ex
cellent Sales opened in the fourth
week of August, and prices realized
were satisfactory. The average pric'
for the year was rs 1Ad per cwt., ant
was only exceeded in four of tn,
previous nineteen years-in 1902. 1904
1908 and 1909.
The acreage under potatoes in Ire
land decreased from 592,9S5 acres il
1910 to 591,259 acres in 1911; ther'
was, however, substantial increas
in the average yield per acre, whicl
increased from 4.S tons in 1910 to 6.
tons in 1911, with the result that tn
total produce of sound tubers in
creased from 2.s70,s27 tons in 1910 t.
s,694.S56 tons in 1911. The quality o
the tubers also was excellent. Tn
average price recorded for 1911 wa