136 AN AGRICULTURAL FAGGOT. 



more than 500,000 cwts., and as there is practically no 

 cheese made in Ireland and very little made by private 

 persons, except, perhaps, a small quantity of soft cheese, 

 this substantially represents the total home supply, which 

 is not more than about 18 per cent, of the nation's con- 

 sumption. Canada sends us about 52 per cent, of our 

 whole requirements, and New Zealand 14 per cent., while 

 7 per cent, from the Netherlands and 5 per cent, from the 

 United States account for nearly all the supplies obtained 

 outside the British Empire. 



The comparative smallness of the output of butter and 

 cheese by British farmers is, of course, attributable to the 

 ever-increasing demand for fresh milk, of which hitherto 

 the home producer has retained a practical monopoly. 

 As already noted, nearly all the milk imported is in the 

 condensed form, but with the view of making a comparison 

 I have converted these quantities into terms of fresh milk, 

 and for the purpose of the calculation I have reckoned 

 the small quantities of oream, separated, preserved and 

 skim milk also as fresh milk. Making some allowance 

 for private supplies, I reckon that the total consumption 

 of milk in all forms in the United Kingdom amounted 

 to about 913,000,000 gallons in 191 1, of which over 95 

 per cent, was produced in this country. Of oversea 

 supplies the Netherlands sent more than half and Switzer- 

 land about one fourth (277 and 1*23 per cent, respectively 

 of our total consumption). 



The quantity of fruit grown on agricultural holdings 

 in Great Britain (exclusive of apples and pears used for 

 cider and perry) is about 6,000,000 cwts., and the value, 

 with a small addition for Ireland, is £4,500,000. The 

 production in private gardens as well as that grown com- 

 mercially under glass is not known, while nuts, which may 

 properly be included in this category, are also an unknown 

 quantity. We may perhaps estimate the home production 

 of fruit and nuts at a total value of £6,000,000. The 

 value of imported fruit and nuts is £16,000,000, but of this 



