BRITISH AGRICULTURE in 



separated countries as India, the Argentine, and 

 Canada is a frequent cause of damage to wheat. 

 Locusts, though recently brought under some 

 measure of control, have often devastated exten- 

 sive areas in the Argentine. Hail is so frequently 

 a cause of disaster abroad that crops in the Argen- 

 tine and also in Europe are generally insured. 

 The higher yield of cereal crops in Great Britain 

 compared to foreign countries is thus partly 

 due to climatic advantages and immunity from 

 insect plagues. It is also the result of the better 

 working of the soil and the liberal use of manures. 

 Intensive culture, using the term in the broad 

 sense, is a matter of necessity where the 

 charges on land, whether taking the form of local 

 or State taxes, are high. The growing of cereals 

 is part of a system of crop rotation, each crop 

 being partially or wholly utilised for stock. 

 The joint effect of a favourable climate and careful 

 husbandry results in the high percentage of natural 

 increase obtained from both cattle and sheep. 

 The estimated percentage of increase from 

 breeding ewes and cows in the countries from 

 which we draw our Oversea supplies of mutton 

 and beef have already been mentioned. At 

 home it has been estimated as averaging 112 per 

 cent, for sheep and 90 per cent, for cattle. 

 These figures as to natural increase show that our 

 pastoral industry is better capable of meeting the 



