236 EXTRACTS FROM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR [Dec. 1894. 



REPORTS. 



ll. lOs. (7| doL). There was more profit in swine, and there 

 will be a large increase in their products, as a large amount of 

 water-damaged wheat at a low cost was available for feeding, 

 and upon this they rapidly grow fat. The Union Meat Company 

 slaughtered 15,000 at an average cost of 2L 4s. The year was 

 a most unprofitable one for sheep-owners, as prices of wool were 

 ruinously low. There were 70,000 sheep slaughtered by the 

 Union Meat Company which cost on an average for the year 9s. 

 (2 dol. 75 c.) per head. At the close of the year sheep could be 

 bought on the ranges at 6s. 



[Foreign Office Report^ Annual Series, No. 1452.] 



Agriculture in Finland. 



In his report to the Foreign Ofiice on the trade of Finland, 

 Mr. C. J. Cooke, Her Majesty's V ice-Consul at Hebingfors, says, 

 that from an agriculturist's point of view, the year 1893 was a 

 thoroughly good one, and had it not been for the unfavourable 

 weather in August, it might have been put down as splendid, 

 although the prices of corn, &c. continued very low, so that it 

 has become a serious question whether it is not better to cease 

 growing cereals at very little profit and to produce instead butter, 

 &c., for the English market, as is being done more and more 

 every year. 



This circumstance goes far to explain the fact that Finland 

 buys much rye from Russia and Germany, which latter country 

 used formerly to import cereals from Finland. The causes of 

 this great change are to be sought in the prohibition of exporta- 

 tion of all grain during the previous year from Russia generally, 

 and in the over supply of European markets with American 

 corn. The amount of cereals imported actually exceeded that of 

 1892, a year marked by a bad harvest in the whole of Finland, 

 and by famine in the northern and eastern parts. 



Next in importance to the export of timber is that of butter, 

 which steadil}^ increases in spite of the fact that in the early part 

 of 1893 the ordinary route via Copenhagen w^as closed during 

 the severe winter, and also owing to the great strike in England, 

 which likewise had its effect. 



The season was very favourable for potatoes, of which large 

 quantities are consumed by the peasants. 



The prohibition of exportation of cereals from Finland in 

 1892, had happily no ill effects so far as the Grand Duchy was 

 concerned, so that oats were exported once more to the amount 

 of 540,820 bushels, of which a portion went to England and the 

 rest to Sweden and Norway. 



The commencement of a trade in pressed hay and straw must 

 also be noted. This was no doubt caused by the remarkable 



