1905.] Agricultural IiviroRTS of Cereal Year. 343, 



from Canada showed a decline, and were relatively unim- 

 portant, whilst those of Australia put the Commonwealth fourth 

 on the scale of contributing countries. 



The decline in the imports of wheat-flour was due to 

 diminished receipts both from the United States and Canada. 



In the case of barley the very high figure reached in 1903-4 

 was not maintained, while a falling off is noticeable in maize, 

 which brings the imports to a lower figure than for many years 

 past with the exception of 1902-3. This diminution is chiefly 

 due to the prohibition of the export of this grain from Roumania 

 in consequence of the severe drought and poor harvest in 1904. 

 There was also a diminished export from Russia, while the 

 United States and Canada increased their supplies. 



The figures for the principal cereals in each of the past ten 

 harvest years are given below : — 



Year. 



In Millions of Cwt. 



Wheat. 



Wheat-flour. 



Barley. 



Oats. 



Maize. 



1 904- 1 905 



105*1 



10.9 



21'0 



17-2 



42'3 



1 903- 1 904 



93-i 



19-1 



3i'9 



I5'2 



47-6 



1 902- 1 903 . 



85-1 



19*2 



257 



i6-6 



4i'6 



1901-1902 



747 



19-1 



23-1 



167 



47 '2 



1900-1901 



71-2 



23-3 



187 



22*1 



55'8 



1899-1900 



65-0 



21*6 



15-2 



19-8 



577 



1898-1899 ... 



67-0 



22'9 



22-9 



I4'9 



57'5 



1897-1898 ... 



66-4 



20 *o 



20*3 



I5'4 



55-6 



1 896- 1 897 



65*0 



20 - 0 



217 



18-4 



597 



1 895- 1 896 



68-8 



I9'9 



22*0 



15-1 



44*5 



The table which is given on the next page shows the imports 

 in the twelve months under review of the other principal agricul- 

 tural commodities. The receipts of beef, including the estimated 

 weight represented by the arrivals of live cattle, amounted to 

 8,471,000 cwt., as compared with 7,967,000 cwt., received in 

 1903-4. Live sheep were received in fewer numbers, and the 

 aggregate imports of fresh mutton, both dead and on the hoot, 

 amounted to 3,822,000 cwt, compared with 3,864,000 cwt. in the 

 preceding year. 



The total imports of bacon were rather larger, but while the 

 receipts from Canada (1,112,000 cwt.) increased, there was a 



