REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



361 



pecially in 1881 and 1883. There lias been a small increase in area. 

 The average value has been dimiuished mainly by decline iu rate of 

 yield. 



AOaUEGATE OF CEREALS. 



The increase in average production, comparing five yeara with the 

 preceding decade, is 40 per cent., though the yield of 1881 was but little 

 above the average of 18S0 and 1 879. The rate of yield has been much less, 

 owing to the occurrence of unfavorable seasons, the increase in area 

 being 53 per cent. The comparisou follows : 



The average anuual value is higher by 37 i)er cent. ; while the pro- 

 duction was 10 per cent, greater, the values per bushel average a little 

 lower than in the previous years. 



The average to each inhabitant for the decade was 12 bushels. Not- 

 withstanding some reduction in yield the area has been sufficiently in- 

 creased to make the average for five years, the first half of tiie present 

 decade, 49 bushels. This is three times the average supply per heaO 

 of the European production of cereals. 



POTATOES. 



The uses of this crop are unchanged, there is no export demand, 

 and the requirements of consumption are only affected by increase of 

 population. The highest price in ten years was 90.9 cents in 1881, 

 when the crop was 109,145,494 bushels, against an average of 132,837,175 

 bushels for the period of ten years, and 169,316,799 for the later five. 



