339 



STATISTICS AFFECTING BRITISH 

 AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS. 



We have once again to thank the Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries for their kindness in supplying us with early copies 

 of the Tables for the Journal in the actual form required. For 

 further information we must refer our readers to the various 

 Agricultural Statistics published by the Board. 



Acreage of Crops. 



The first Tal)le, "Acreage under Crops and Grass and Num- 

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

 Scotland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom, for the 

 beginning of June in 1911 and 1912. There was last year a 

 decrease in the area under Crops and Grass amounting to 98,634 

 acres (^ per cent.) in Great Britain, and to 63,933 acres (over ^ 

 per cent.) in England. In the last five years there has been a 

 decrease under this heading of 247,453 acres (nearly "8 per 

 cent.) in Great Britain, and of 170,962 acres (nearly "7 per 

 cent.) in England. 



Last year the total area of Corn Crops in Great Britain 

 increased by 111,494 acres. In individual crops there were 

 increases of 50,271 acres in Barley ; 34,416 in Peas : 18,383 in 

 Oats ; 19,699 in Wheat ; and 14,569 in Rye, while there was a 

 decrease of 25,844 or 8'2 per cent, in Beans. In the rest of the 

 United Kingdom there were slight increases in the areas under 

 corn crops. 



Considering England only, there was a total loss of acreage 

 under Crops and Grass of 63,933 compared with the previous 

 year. This was owing to a decrease of 85,844 in Permanent 

 Grass, the Arable Land having increased by 21,911 acres. 

 Wheat increased by 17,907 acres. Barley by 27,531, Oats by 

 24,433, Rye by 13,047 and Peas by 34,180, while Beans 

 decreased by 24,117 acres. 



Taking Crops other than Corn we find in England an increase 

 of 34,443 acres or 8'5 per cent, in Potatoes, one of 34,334 acres 

 or 7'8 per cent, in Mangold, one of 26,955 acres or 26*3 per 

 cent, in Vetches or Tares, while there was a decrease of 50,667 

 acres or 4*7 per cent, in Turnips and Swedes, and one of 

 90,194 acres or 3'8 per cent, in " Clover, Sainfoin, and Grasses 

 under Rotation." 



Bare Fallow in England decreased by 49,800 acres or 15*6 

 per cent. 



