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On Agricultural Statistics 



the conclusions are assailable. So the fact that the islands 

 adjoining our shores contain nearly four times as many cattle in 

 proportion to their area as does Scotland, is one which needs 

 qualifying by the light of more detailed information before we can 

 safely generalise from the greater wealth of the islands in beeves. 



It is only when we come to smaller subdivisions in which 

 there are general features of uniformity that comparisons are less 

 open to objection. An English or a Scotch county, although it 

 possesses varied features, will yet in its leading characteristics 

 have in most cases a degree of homogeneity which would be 

 wanting in a kingdom made up of a number of such counties. 



I have appended to this paper Tables which show the results 

 of the recent Cattle Census for each county in England, Wales, 

 and Scotland. It would be futile to attempt a minute analysis 

 of these Tables within the space now remaining at my disposal. 

 They will no doubt receive careful study from the readers of 

 this Journal, who will be able to deduce from them much that 

 is both important and interesting to agriculturists as well as to 

 the public at large. 



I have also referred to the Returns of Stock for certain counties 

 which were obtained through the agency of the Poor-Law Board 

 in 1854, and have tabulated the corresponding results in the 

 two periods of 1854 and 1866 for each of the 11 counties specified 

 in the earlier year : — 



It is plain from the discrepancies between the numbers of 

 different kinds of stock in the two periods in the several counties, 

 that no equitable comparison can be instituted in the absence of 

 such information as would show the peculiar circumstances 

 under which the two returns were made. The investigation of 

 1854 did not commence until after harvest-time, and many of the 

 schedules were not sent in before the beginning of 1855 ; whereas 

 the recent census was specifically fixed for a given day — the 5th 



