Ratio of Imported Wheat to Home-grown Wheat. 85 



thirty-two years to 1883 inclusive, to 27 bushels. We never - 

 theless still adopt 28 bushels as the normal average yield. 

 If, however, our estimate of consumption is, as alleged, too 

 high, the average yield per acre would be lower, not higher, 

 than our figures show. If, on the other hand, it were 

 established that there is a large consumption by stock or 

 otherwise, over and above our estimate of total consumption, 

 it is obvious that our estimates of average yield per acre are, 

 so far, too low." 



The following statements are based upon the authors' 

 second paper (1880), embracing three periods of eight years 

 each, and an odd period of three years at the end. Of course, 

 with regard to prices, most serious modification would be 

 needed in order to bring the statistics up to the present date, 

 the figures now to be mentioned coming down only to 1880. 

 It appears, then, that the price of wheat per quarter declined 

 from an average of 57s. Sd. over the first eight vears (includ- 

 ing the period of the Crimean War) to 49s. over the last 

 three years (1876-77-78). The annual value of the home 

 produce available for consumption declined from an average 

 of nearly 38,000,0002. over the first eight years (1852-59) to 

 less than 25,000,0002. over the last three years. The annual 

 value of the imported wheat increased from an average of 

 little more than 13,000,0002. over the first eight years to more 

 than 33,000,0002. over the last three years. The annual 

 value of the total wheat estimated to be consumed (1852 

 to 1878) ranged from under 40,000,0002. to more than 

 71,000,0002., and it increased from an average of about 

 51,500,0002. over the first eight years, to more than 

 58,000,0002. over the last three years. The average annual 

 cost of wheat per head was somewhat reduced in the later 

 periods ; it was 36s. 2c2. over the twenty- seven years. 



Over the whole period of thirty -two years (18521884), 

 44'6 per cent, of the wheat consumed was derived from imports ; 

 and the amount supplied from foreign sources has increased 

 from an average of 26'5 per cent, of the total over the first 



