30 AGRICULTURE AND TARIFF REFORM. 



Tlie second table shows tlie actual quantities 

 of wheat and of wheat flour imported into our 

 country in the years indicated : — 



The same argument applies to cattle, the im- 

 portations of which did not seriously increase 

 until 1853, when, owing to the dreadful cattle 

 disease, pleuro-pneumonia — which lasted for five 

 years and did enormous destruction amongst 

 British stock — our own farmers were unable to 

 meet the home demand for meat. The figures 

 are : — 



