Statistics afecting British Agricultxiral Interests. 409 



was a matter of minute search ; if one was found it was 

 generally in a state of decay. So far as observation could go, 

 the plot was practically freed entirely from the onion. 



So convinced is Mr. Reed of the change wrought, that he is 

 now going to put down the entire field, wherever affected by 

 onion, with the grass mixture. Owing to the continued 

 drought this could not be done in autumn, 1911, but will be 

 started in spring, 1912. The grass mixture is an expensive one, 

 and at the now increased prices for seeds amounts to as much 

 as 64:5. per acre, but Mr. Reed considers that it has paid him 

 well, especially as he has taken a good hay crop each year. It 

 is also worth considering whether, by exclusion of some of the' 

 more expensive items, the mixture might not be cheapened 

 without losing its eflBciency. 



So far as this work has gone it would seem clear that what 

 has been effected by the grass mixture, as also to a lesser extent 

 by the lucerne, is the removal of water from the soil consequent 

 on the tilling it has received by the deep-rooting plants, better 

 drainage being thereby attained. There is just one other 

 question — one suggested by the work of Mr. Pickering at the 

 Ridgmont Experimental Fruit Farm — whether, possibly, the 

 grasses may not have exercised something in the nature of a 

 " toxic " influence on the onions. The field will now be laid 

 down with a grass mixture on the lines of that previously 

 adopted, but with some modifications in order to lessen its cost, 

 and the further progress of the experiment will, it is felt, be 

 followed with much interest. 



J. Augustus Voelcker. 



22 Tudor Street, E.G. 



STATISTICS AFFECTING BRITISH 

 AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS. 



Once more the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have most 

 kindly supplied the Tables for this volume in the actual form 

 in which they are printed. For this we beg once again to 

 tender our best thanks, both time and labour having thus been 

 saved. Further information will be found in the various Agri- 

 cultural Statistics as they are published by the Board. 



Acreage of Crops. 



The first Table " Acreage under Crops and Grass and Number 

 of Live Stock " gives the numbers for England, Wales, Scotland, 

 Great Britain, and the United Kingdom for the beginning of June 

 in 1910 and 1911. In the past year the acreage under Crops and 

 Grass in the United Kingdom decreased by 3,000 acres. In the 



