1908.] Imports of Grain, 1907-8. 427 



Cattle. 



1908. 



1907. 



Increase or Decrease. 



Cows and heifers — 

 In milk 



In calf, but not in milk 

 Other cattle — 



Two years and above... 

 One year and under two 

 Under one year 



Number. 



2,197,763 

 566,017 



1,371,688 

 1,415.483 

 i,354,i83 



Number. 



2,198,213 

 561,033 



1,388,941 

 1,440,414 

 1,323,466 



Number. 



45° 

 + 4,984 



- 17,253 



- 24,931 

 + 30,717 



Per cent. 



- O'O 



+ 0-9 



I *2 



i*7 



+ 2-3 



Total ... 



6,905,13+ 



.6,912,067 



- 6,933 



O" I 



There are considerable increases in the number of sheep 

 under each head, the largest, actually and relatively, occurring 

 in the case of those of one year and above (excluding breeding 

 ewes), and the total exceeds 27,000,000 for the first time since 

 1899. The number of ewes kept for breeding is the largest 

 recorded since this class was first separately distinguished 

 in the returns in 1893, whilst the number of other sheep under 

 one year is greater than in any year since the returns were first 

 collected, with the exception of 1868, when it was just over 

 11,000,000 and in 1891 when the number was 10,946,000. The 

 total increase this year is 924,000, or 3 J per cent. 



Pigs show an increase on the whole of nearly 187,000, or 

 rather more than 7 per cent. The increase is wholly in pigs 

 other than sows kept for breeding, the latter having declined 

 by nearly 11,000. 



Sheep. 



1908. 



1907. 1 



Increase or Decrease. 



Ewes keep for breeding... 

 Other sheep — 



One year and above ... 



Under one year 



Total ,. 



Number. 

 10,489,089 



5,632,767 

 10,917,874 



Number. 

 10,277,140 ! 



1 



5,193,597 ! 

 10,644,718 j 



Number. 

 + 211,949 



+ 439,i7o 

 + 273,156 



Per cent. 



+ 2'I 



+ 8-5 



+ 2'6 



27,039,730 



26,115,455 + 924,275 



+ 3'S 



IMPORTS OF GRAIN IN THE CEREAL YEAR, 1907-8. 



The close of the cereal year, which may be reckoned as 

 extending from 1st September to 31st August, affords a 

 convenient opportunity for considering the extent to which 

 this country has been dependent on the Colonies and on 



