368 



Agriculture in Queensland. 



cattle have been introduced to replace those lost by drought. 

 During the five years 1888-92 an annual average of 3,424 

 head were imported and 240,000 exported, whilst in the five 

 years 1893-97 the imports were 7,641 and the exports 169,818 

 per annum. 



With regard to sheep, amongst which drought also caused 

 heavy losses during the past year, the imports in the first five 

 years of the decade averaged 317,631, and in the second period 

 190,129 per annum, whilst the exports averaged 393,438 

 and 751,323 head respectively. The number of sheep sent 

 out of the colony alive in 1S97 was larger than in any 

 previous year, being 1,114,270 head; and it is estimated 

 that the exports of dead meat and tallow represented 946,000 

 sheep. The most important pastoral product is, however, 

 wool, of which 76,360,239 lbs., valued at /J2, 509, 342, were 

 exported in 1S97 ; this commodity ranking next to gold in 

 value of exports. 



Hides and skins form the principal item in the other 

 pastoral products, although no portion of a beast that can 

 be in any way utilised is allowed to go to waste. In 

 connection with the sheep-walks of the colony, the gradual 

 reduction in the average number of sheep to each holding may 

 be noticed. This average exceeded 21,000 in 1890, and last 

 year had fallen to under 10,000. 



Whilst the live stock in Queensland, proportionately to the 

 area, is small, compared with the population it is very large. 

 Thus there are 9-11 cattle and 26-62 sheep per square mile ; 

 but to each 100 of the population there are 1,256 cattle and 

 3,672 sheep. There is, it is stated, ample room for expansion 

 in the number of live stock before the grazing capacities of 

 the natural pastures are fully taxed. 



Cereal Production of Russia. 



A recent number of the Bulletin Riisse contained a series of 

 tables, issued by the Statistical Committee of the Russian 

 Ministry of the Interior, showing for the sixty governments of 



