334 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. 



order to show the increase or decrease, the advance, the progress 

 or otherwise, of a country's industries, and to give some idea as to 

 its agricultural prospects. Compared with those of other 

 countries, too, these Statistics will show us where there is room 

 for improvement. The yield per acre, as ascertained by the 

 Agricultural Statistics of this country, will reveal a surprisingly 

 low average when compared with that of older countries. It 

 will show the necessity for the use of fertilizers and for proper 

 cultivation of the ground. It will direct our attention 'to other 

 countries, when we shall see what they have accomplished, and 

 perhaps inquire into their methods. 



We produce, we buy, and we sell. In importing we buy ; 

 in exporting we sell. And when we turn our attention to the 

 Customs Statistics, what do we find? That in Livestock and 

 Agricultural Products we imported into the Union during last 

 year commodities to the tune of £8,500,000; whilst we exported 

 products to the value of £9,000,000. Agriculturally speaking, 

 therefore, we sell very little more than we buy; and when we 

 know that of the total value of exports about £5,000,000 is 

 represented by wool and mohair, and £2,250,000 by ostrich 

 feathers, the amount to be placed to the credit of agriculture 

 proper is no more than the paltry sum of £1,500,000, which 

 plainly shows that the tilling of the soil does not receive the 

 attention which it might. This knowledge ought to instil in the 

 bosom of every man, woman and child who lives in the country 

 a desire to contribute his or her share towards getting this state 

 of tilings altered ; in other words, encourage local industries. 



What a field for improvement presents itself to our mind's 

 eye ! Our great aim ought to be to bring the Producer, the 

 Consumer and the Commercial man together or in closer relation 

 to one another. The one is dependent on the other ; their 

 interests are the same. 



In short, we cannot do without Agricultural Statistics. 

 Commercial men continually apply to the Department of Agri- 

 culture for information. The Shipping Companies want to know 

 what we are going to export in quantity ; how many bags of 

 maize, for instance, there will be for export, and so forth. We 

 must be in a position to give the information, as our reputation — - 

 that is, the reputation of the Agricultural Department — is con- 

 cerned. 



The two great phases to be considered are, firstly, the 

 Collection, and secondly, the Compilation and Tabulation of 

 Agricultural Statistics. Time will not permit our going into the 

 matter in detail and dealing with all the aspects of the case. 

 We oan only, therefore, confine ourselves to a broad outline and 

 touch on the most important matters. 



Collection. 



Under this heading we have to consider (1) The System; 

 (2) The Procedure (or how to collect); (3) The Enumer- 



