678 



The Monthly Agricultural Index Number. [Nov., 



gate will be assisted by Mr. R. B. Walker, of the National Union 

 of Agricultural Labourers, Mr. John Beard, of the Workers' 

 Union, and Mr. J. F. Duncan, of the Scottish Farm SeiTants' 

 Union ; while the Government Delegates will be accompanied by 

 Mr. R. J. Thompson, of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Mr. 

 H. M. Conacher, of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. 



'if * * * * * 



The Monthly Agricultural Index Number* of the prices of 

 agricultural produce prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture 

 The Monthl shows that the prices at which farm pro- 

 . . ^ ducts were sold in September were on the 



Index Number ^^^^^8® P^^ cent, above the average 

 rates in the three years 191.1-13. This 

 represents a fall of 11 points as compared with the preceding 

 month when the average stood at 116 per cent, above the 1911-13 

 level. The following table shows the figures for each month 

 since the beginning of 1919 : — 



Iiicr ase pei- cent, on the average of the 

 Month. v.ars 1911-13. 





1919. 



1920. 



1921. 



January ... 



148 



213 



186 



February 



150 



205 



172 



March 



150 



199 



15S 



April 



153 



199 



141 



May 



132 



169 



112 



June 



128 



164 



102 



•Inly 



141 



174 



100 



August 



138 



177 



116 



September 



148 



181 



105 



October ... 



166 



191 





November 



182 



197 





December 



207 



194 





Wheat and oats fell during the past month, but barley showed 

 a seasonal rise due to a larger proportion of malting barley 

 being put on the market. All descriptions of live stock showed 

 a decline during the month, and this was also the case with 

 butter, cheese, poultry and eggs. On the other hand higher 

 prices were obtained for milk, as is customary in the autumn. 

 Potatoes were cheaper. On the whole, taking one commodity 

 with another farmers now appear to be receiving a httle more 

 than double pre-war prices. Among the commodities purchased 

 by farmers, maize and milling offals are distinctly cheaper, while 

 oil cakes and some other feeding stuffs show a small decline. 



An explanatorv note on the Agricultural Index Number appeared in the 

 s-;ue of this Journal for October last, p 578. 



