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PRIMARY PRODUCTION
mushroom, lotus root, olive, turnip, yam and mustard. The area planted to these crops in 1961 was about 1,000 acres and their value over $3,500,000. The water chestnut crop in particular has grown rapidly in the last two years and now extends over 300 acres. The quality has also improved and a larger proportion is now being exported as 'first grade'. Crops exported to the United States and to certain other foreign countries must be accompanied by a Certificate of Origin; this requires individual inspection of the crops in the field by staff of the Agriculture and Forestry Department.
ANIMAL INDUSTRIES
As there is insufficient land for extensive grazing, pigs and poultry are the principal food animals reared in the Colony; cattle are mainly used for draught purposes.
The pigs of Hong Kong are mostly the resultant crosses of local animals with exotic stock; pure strains of the Chinese type are becoming less common. The Agriculture and Forestry Depart- ment maintains herds of pure exotic strains, such as Berkshire, Mid-White and Large-White, and also herds of two Chinese strains. These animals are used for experimental purposes, commercial cross-breeding and distribution to improve the Colony's pig stock. Pig-keeping in the villages is often on traditional lines, but a general improvement in management is taking place as a result of advisory services. In 1953 only 64,000 pigs of local origin were slaughtered in local_abattoirs, compared with just under 330,000 in 1961; the latter figure represented 29% of the total number of pigs slaughtered in the Colony and the value of pig production during the year amounted to some $45 million.
Many of the larger poultry farmers are now producing their own hatching eggs as a result of the curtailment of imports of both birds and hatching eggs from China. There was also a distinct increase in the collection of hatching eggs from village flocks and the latter development is of great importance in the establishment of a stable poultry industry within the territory. In the wetter areas ducks and geese are raised for home consumption and for export. The rearing of ducks and geese for the local market has become increasingly important in recent years. Pigeon-keeping is now a thriving industry and prices in 1961 averaged $7.50 for a pair of squabs. The total value of squabs marketed during the year was