1922.] 



The Agricultural Index Number. 



1065 



to the present time, the figures representing the percentage in- 

 creases in value as compared with the average of the three years 

 1911-13 :— 



Month. 



1919. 



1920. 



1921. 



1922. 





Per cent. 



Per cent. 



Per cent. 



Per cent 



January ... 



148 



213 



186 



79 



February . . . 



150 



205 



172 





March 



150 



199 



158 





April 



153 



199 



141 





May 



132 



169 



112 





June 



128 



164 



102 





July 



141 



174 



100 





August 



138 



177 



116 





September... 



148 



181 



105 





October 



166 



191 



90 





November . . . 



182 



197 



84 





December ... 



207 



194 



82 





Wheat and oats were practically unchanged- in value in 

 January as compared with December, 1921, but barley was again 

 cheaper, averaging about 50 per cent, above the pre-War price. 

 Fat and store cattle were somewhat cheaper, and dairy cows 

 decidedly so, averaging about £39 per head or about 89 per cent, 

 above the 1911-13 price compared with £42 and 104 per cent, 

 in the previous month ; dairy cows, however, remain the dearest 

 class of stock in comparison with pre-War days. Fat and store 

 sheep appreciated in value, a steady rise continuing throughout 

 the month, while store pigs were also dearer, although fat pigs 

 showed little change. Eggs again experienced a sharp decline in 

 price, which was, however, recovered to some extent during 

 the latter part of the month. Dairy produce generally sold at 

 lower rates, butter especially falling in price, due probably to 

 the recent substantial reductions in the price of imported butter. 

 The average price of milk delivered under contract into large 

 towns was in January about 157 per cent, above the annual 

 price, and roughly double the average winter price in pre-War 

 days. Hay showed little alteration, while potatoes met a rather 

 better trade at firmer values. 



Among the commodities purchased by the farmer, the chief 

 reductions have been in milling offals and in the phosphatic 

 manures. Other feeding stuffs are also generally cheaper, lin- 

 seed cake exceptionally showing a slight rise. A slight fall in 

 the price of nitrate of soda was off-set by a corresponding increase 

 in the cost of sulphate of ammonia. 



