1905.] Agricultural Statistics, 1904. 



243 



The complete volume of agricultural statistics for 1904 

 published by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, which is 

 . prefaced by a Report by Major Craigie, 



Statistics 1904. Drm § s together the information collected 

 in the agricultural returns already sepa- 

 rately issued, and furnishes particulars of the imports and 

 exports of agricultural produce, the prices of corn, of live stock 

 and other commodities, together with the latest statistics 

 relating to the agriculture of British possessions and foreign 

 countries. 



The collection of the returns of acreage and live stock has 

 been, as in other years, effected by the Officers of Inland 

 Revenue, but by an administrative re-adjustment, the Inland 

 Revenue authorities have been relieved of the responsibility 

 for the appointment and supervision of Crop Estimators, and 

 direct communication has been arranged between the Board 

 and the Estimators. This arrangement, while increasing the 

 work done by the Department, has tended in some degree to 

 facilitate the compilation of the Returns. 



Among the new features in the Report is the publication 

 of the dates of commencement and termination of harvest as 

 stated by the Estimators in different districts, together with 

 a summary of the average duration of harvest operations for 

 wheat, barley, and oats in Great Britain. 



The statistical information respecting the prices of ranimals, 

 meat, wool, and other agricultural produce has been con- 

 siderably developed in 1904. While with one exception the 

 tables previously given have been retained in order to allow of 

 comparisons with earlier years, somewhat extensive additions 

 to the tables of prices of agricultural produce have now become 

 possible by utilising . the new price returns furnished directly 

 to the Board, in pursuance of the recommendations of Lord 

 Mansfield's Committee. 



Attention is drawn by Major Craigie to several interesting 

 points in connection with the imports of agricultural produce, 

 and the fluctuations in the sources of our wheat and maize 

 imports are shown in tables which give the percentage of both 

 grains received from various countries during the .past five 

 years. 



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