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British Association for the Advancement of Science. 135 
Section F. Statistics. 
Mr. Clarke read a paper containing contributions to the educa- 
tional statistics of Birmingham. 
Mr. G. R. Porter read a paper entitled suggestions in favor of 
the systematic collection of the statistics of agriculture. Of the 
material interests affecting the well-being of a community, one 
of the most important subjects is doubtless that of an adequate 
supply of food for the people; and yet in England the subject 
has not hitherto been considered to any useful or practical end. 
It cannot even be ascertained from any authentic document, what 
quantity of land in the country is under cultivation. The author 
enforced with much earnestness the importance of establishing 
the necessary organization to secure the statistics in question, and 
also to diffuse among the agriculturists a knowledge of the im- 
provements in the science of husbandry which are often limited 
to narrow districts. It has been stated that if all England were 
cultivated as well as the counties of Northumberland and Lin- 
coln, it would produce more than double the quantity of food 
how obtained. 
A report on the state of the working classes in three parishes 
in Rutlandshire, from facts collected by the Manchester Statistical 
Society, was read by Mr. Gregg.—Mr. Langton of the same 
society, read a report on the educational statistics of the county 
of Rutland. Taking the scholars of all ages, about 5 per cent. 
of the population attend evening and day schools only; 9.6 per 
cent. attend day and Sunday schools; 6 per cent. attend Sunday 
Schools only. 
Mr. Rawson read a very elaborate paper on the criminal statis- 
tics of England and Wales. Of his interesting results we can 
here state but one or two. 'The average annual number of per- 
sons committed or bailed to take their trial, during the last five 
- years, was 22,174, of which more than half were for simple lar- 
eny. Both in England and in France the ratio of male to fe- 
“mnale criminals is about as 4 to 1—Next was read a report by the 
‘Manchester Statistical Society on the borough of Kingston-upon- 
ull.—Mr. Wharton made a report on the progress of the inqui- 
ries made by the committee instituted for the purpose of inquiring 
into the statistics of the mining districts of Northumberland, Dur- 
ham and Yorkshire.—Mr. Clarke read a report on the commercial 
_ Statistics of Birmingham, prepared by a local committee. It in- 
