72 RURAL LIFE IN CANADA 



next, 131.5; for all textiles, 120.7; for drugs and 

 chemicals, 114.4; for housefurnishings of all kinds, 

 112.8; for all metals and implements, 112.7; for all 

 fuel and lighting, 106. 



That the agricultural base of supply in Canada is 

 becoming insufficient, and that a more general produc-' 

 tion upon the farm is imperatively needed, is shown 

 also by the falling off in the supply of several staple 

 farm products. Canada in 1903 exported to Britain 

 over 34,000,000 pounds of butter. During the last 

 nine months of 1912 this export trade had entirely 

 ceased; not a pound of butter was shipped to Britain. 

 On the contrary, Canada now imports butter from New 

 Zealand. During 1912 we imported in all 5,714,405 

 pounds, in value amounting to $1,511,654. Of eggs 

 Canada imported during the year, chiefly from the 

 United States, 11,007,345 dozen, paying for them 

 $2,327,924, and paying upon them in customs duties 

 $330,219. Of stall-fed cattle over 45,000 head were 

 shipped from Montreal to Britain in 1911, but less than 

 6,000 head in 1912. In 1881 there were 3,048,678 

 sheep upon the farms of Canada; in 1901, 2,510,239; 

 in 1911, 2,106,010. Were we to examine other smaller 

 lines of farm produce we should find the same rule hold- 

 ing good. For instance, we exported in 1912 $6,541 

 worth of beans, and imported $210,145 worth. Were 

 we to examine the output of each Province we should 

 find the same record. Ontario, for instance, had in 

 1912 106,000 fewer dairy cattle upon her farms than 

 in 1911. The receipts of fat cattle at the Toronto 

 stock yards fell off from 317,000 head in 1910 to 

 273,000 head in 1911. Corresponding facts might be 

 cited from every Province and in many fields of out- 



