36 AGRICULTFRE AND TARIFF REFORM. 



iuliabitaut; in 1846, 15 busliels per inhabitant; 

 and in 18-30, 17 busliels per inhabitant. 



On the other hand, the consumption of wheat, 

 which in 1811 to 1830 was 300 lb. per inhabitant, 

 has only increased for the ten years ending 1889 

 to 384 lb. per inhabitant; and these figures in- 

 clude not only the amount actually eaten, but 

 the amount used as seed, which latter may be 

 taken at 12 lb. per inhabitant at the date last 

 given. If, to this statement it be added that 

 our population has gone on increasing since the 

 last date ; that our production of home-grown 

 grain has diminished, both in acreage and in 

 price; and that the production of the foreign 

 grain imported here has both increased in acreage 

 and in its price to our consumers (which are facts), 

 we cannot consider the position as healthy, 

 whether as regards agriculture alone, or as regards 

 the nation at large. 



The consumption of meat may be taken a^i 

 follows for the years specified*: — 



80 lb. per iiihabiiaiit. 



It would appear that of our total meat con- 

 sumption, we depend upon the foreigner for at 

 least five months of each year ; and yet there is 

 no country better situated than Great Britain 

 for the production of the best class of meat if 

 more encouragement were given to our farmers 

 and less to those of other lands. 



* Mulhall. ~~ 



