1906.] Decline in Agricultural Population. 529 



good demand during the summer both for eggs and poultry. 

 There is room, however, for an extension in poultry-keeping 

 which would enable both the spring and summer trade to be 

 met. 



Co-operation in the Sale of Eggs, — In respect of eggs, the 

 main difficulty presenting itself is the want of a better organiza- 

 tion for sale, and the lack of winter supplies. As to the former, 

 the practice of selling at the weekly markets has entirely broken 

 down in face of the improved and more expeditious system fol- 

 lowed by some foreign competitors. It is essential, therefore, 

 that combinations of producers for the sale of eggs should be 

 formed in all the counties which are distant from the point of 

 consumption. The experience gained by the National Poultry 

 Organization Society clearly indicates that Co-operative Societies 

 afford great encouragement to poultry-keeping, owing to the 

 better prices obtained as a result of finer quality and of more 

 regular supplies. A Co-operative Egg Society cannot fail to 

 stimulate production in any district. 



Edward Brown. 



THE DECLINE IN THE AGRICULTURAL 

 POPULATION. 



The reduction in the number of persons returned as engaged^ 

 in agriculture in Great Britain has been one of the most promi- 

 nent features of the Census Returns for the past 50 years, and 

 it has never been more apparent than in the figures for 1901, 

 when a decline of about 20 per cent, in the number of agricul- 

 tural labourers during the preceding decade was indicated. 



In view of the public interest displayed in the question of 

 what is termed rural depopulation, the Board determined to 

 take steps to elicit the views of their agricultural correspondents 

 with regard to the present movement of the agricultural 

 population and the causes which affect it. The questions put 

 to the agricultural correspondents included inquiries as to 

 whether the changes recorded in the agricultural population 

 prior to 1901 had continued during the past five years ; they 

 were asked for their opinions on the immediate causes of the 



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