4 



The Ageiculturai. Index Number. [Apr., 



destroyed. It is hoped that the brief descriptions of them and 

 of their life histories, together with the excellent coloured 

 plates, may help towards their wider recognition and 

 protection. 



****** 



The average of the market prices of all descriptions of agri- 

 cultural produce during February showed a slight rise as com- 

 The A ricultural P^^^^ with the previous month, this being 

 ne gricu ura ^ ^ break that has occurred in the 

 Index Number. , , . , • • 



downward moA^ement oi prices smce 



August, 1921. Prices in February were on the whole 83 per 

 cent, in advance of the average of the three years 1911-13, 

 as against an increase of 77 per cent, in January. 



The following table shows the percentage increase during 

 each month from 1919 to the present time : — 



Month. 



January . . . 

 February ... 

 March 

 April 

 May 

 J une 

 July 

 August 

 September . . . 

 October 

 November . . . 

 December ... 



Owing to the changes since 1911-13 in the varieties of potatoes 

 principally grown, it has been necessary to revise the basis of 

 the calculations for this description of produce, and to base 

 figures on the most representative varieties. It will be observed 

 that the alteration to the general index number is only 2 points. 



Practically all commodities shared in the upward movement 

 experienced during February, the chief exceptions being 

 barley, which was practically unchanged, milk and butter, 

 which fell 8 points and 7 points respectively, and hay, which 

 dechned a further 3 points. The greatest increase was in the 

 case of fat sheep, which rose from 60 per cent, above the pre- 

 war level in January to 83 per cent, in February. During 

 February fat cattle were about 65 per cent, and pigs 80 per 

 cent, above the prices in 1911-13. 



Prices of cereals showed a somewhat smaller increase com- 

 pared with pre-war days, wheat being about 45 per cent.; 



1919. 



1920. 



1921. 



1922. 



Per cent. 



Per cent. 



Per cent. 



Per cent 



148 



213 



186 



11 



150 



205 



172 



83 



150 



199 



158 





153 



199 



141 





132 



169 



112 





128 



164 



102 





141 



174 



100 





138 



177 



116 





148 



181 



105 





166 



191 



90 





182 



197 



84 





207 



194 



82 





