41 AGRIOULTITRE AND TARIFF REFORM. 



sterling, and in 1891-96 only 1,686 millions ster- 

 ling, or a decrease of 282 millions, shows a very 

 different and miicli more serious state of things, 

 when considered in the light of figures relating 

 to the agricultural capital of other countries. 

 The following table shov.-s this at a glance:-- 



on?, 



If the foregoing figures were analysed so as to 

 show the agricultural capital per inhabitant of 

 the various countries, the marked deterioration 

 in the case of the United Kingdom would be con- 

 siderably more apparent than the figures already 

 indicate ; which, amongst other things, show that 

 whilst our agricultural capital has decreased — 

 and enormously — that of every other country 

 cited has gone on i-ncreasing and increasing by 

 leaps and bounds. j^Ir. Mulhall truly points 

 out that, " viewed as a money-making occupation, 

 agriculture is by no means so profitable as other 

 pursuits, for while it represents, broadly, about 

 40 per cent, of the population and 31 per cent, of 

 the wealth, it stands for only 20 per cent, of the 



