344 BOARD OF AGRICULTUKE. [Jan. 



and most constant income in favorable districts. In 1889 

 they seem to have had a good season for the manufacture of 

 cheese. The weather has generally been good for manufact- 

 uring and ripening. The trade has improved both for fine 

 and common sorts. In the Cheshire district the make has 

 been in excess of previous years, and the quality has been 

 very good. So in Shropshire and in the other cheese-making 

 districts. Professor Sheldon, with true English accuracy 

 and intelligence, says : — 



The season of 1889, for cheese-making purposes, considering 

 the uncommouly early and genial spring, the grassy summer and 

 the bright and dry autumn, will have to be set down as an 

 unusually favorable one. Cattle have had abundance of food all 

 through, and have milked well. The yield of cheese will be a 

 good one, so far as bulk is concerned ; but the yield in profit to 

 the farmer will not be what it ought to be, though probably more 

 nearly so than for several years past. Prices range from 40s. to 

 65s. per hundred weight of 120 pounds. 



In Scotland the make of cheese has declined, being ten 

 per cent less than in 1888 ; while the average price is 2s. 

 per hundred weight greater. In addition to the cheese manu- 

 factory, the supply of milk has become a great industry, more 

 especially in the midland districts, as it has in the United 

 States. The price fixed upon by the dealers is lOd. per 

 imperial gallon for six months in winter, and 7d. to 8d. for 

 the other six months. Even these small prices have interfered 

 with the supply of milk for cheese-making ; and the increased 

 raising of stock has also reduced the supply for both the 

 market and cheese. Itinerant dairy schools have been 

 established in some of the counties. 



The crop area has changed somewhat during the last year. 

 Taking all the corn crops, it will be found that they are 

 grown on 8,075,100 acres, or some 112,600 acres less than 

 in 1888. Green crops also show a decline, 3,209,000 acres 

 having been so cropped, or 172,200 less than the previous 

 3'ear. There is a large increase of permanent pasture. 



Insects injurious to vegetation are the farmers' pest in 

 England, as well as in this count r}'. The year 1889 was not 

 unusually disastrous in this respect, except in the case of 



