The replies have been summarised under each of the five 

 questions asked in the circular, and grouped in the divisions 

 which have for many years been adopted for the agricul- 

 tural returns. A sketch map showing these divisions is pre- 

 fixed to this Report. 



In a few instances the figures extracted from the Census Census 

 Returns, and the changes which they indicated, did not appear Returns, 

 to agree with the experience of particular Correspondents, and 

 in one or two cases the accuracy of the returns was challenged. 

 It was not always remembered that the basis of the figures 

 being the description which each householder gives of himself 

 and the members of his household, there must of necessity be 

 some margin of error. More especially is this noticeable 

 in regard to the number of farmers and graziers returned, 

 which bears no relation to the number of persons occupying 

 agricultural land, but represents only such as described them- 

 selves as farmers or graziers on their Census schedules, by 

 reason of farming or grazing being their only, or principal, 

 source of livelihood. 



Of the several classes of the agricultural population specially 

 referred to in these reports, the numbers returned in Great 

 Britain were, in the last three Census years,* as follows : 



A reference to the local details given in Table I., will Farmers, 

 show that during the twenty years 1881 to 1901 farmers graziers,' 

 i bailiffs, &c. 



* Certain changes in the classification adopted at different Censuses must 

 be borne in mind in comparing the returns. Thus, the class described as 

 "Farm Bailiffs" in 1881 and 1891 was described as "Farm Bailiffs- 

 Foremen" in 1901, and the class " Agricultural Labourers Farm Servants 



Cottagers," in 1881, was described as "Agricultural Labourers Farm 

 Servants" in 1891 and 1901, while in the latter year the class was divided so 

 as to distinguish men in charge of horses and cattle respectively. 



