Agricultural Pursuits.

Agriculture is not carried on to the extent it might be with so much land suitable for root-and grain-crops. No doubt this is due to the profits made in sheep farming. It is chiefly confined to the Heretaunga Plains and the flat lands near Gisborne. The soil is favourable to root-crops; potatoes range from 12 to 15 tons to the acre, and in some instances exceed this amount. Only a moderate quantity of grain is grown; barley, for which the soil seems well adapted, returning iron 20 to 60 bushels of good sample to the acre.