358 THE GRAIN AND POTATO CROPS OF 1896. [March 1897. 



than 24J bushels, and an oat crop of hardly over 27 bushels 

 per acre appear to have been reaped. 



In advance of the complete volume of agricultural returns for 

 1896, it may be useful here to add to the notes on the cereal 

 harvest a summary of the potato crop, respecting which at one 

 period some anxiety was entertained in certain districts. 

 Although the rains of the later autumn may have impeded the 

 securing of this crop, the aggregate production for Great 

 Britain is estimated to have little, if at all, fallen short of the 

 result of 1895, when the largest potato crop since 1889 was 

 estimated to have been produced. The English total was, 

 indeed, over the aggregate for 1895, while the Welsh and Scotch 

 crops were short, but the yield per acre was in every case 

 distinctly above the average, although not so largely as in the 

 preceding year. 



Potatoes. 



Estimated 

 Total Produce. 



Estimated 

 Yield per Acre. 



Average 

 Yield 

 per Acre, 

 1886-95. 





1896. 



1895. 



1896. 



1895. 





Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



England 



2,539,000 



2,519,000 



6-35 



6-75 



6-00 



Wales - 



218,000 



227,000 



6-45 



6-74 



5-71 



Scotland ... 



805,000 



847,000 



6-20 



6-30 



5*70 



1 



Geeat Britain 



3,562,000 



3,593,000 



6'32 



6-64 



5"91 



