194 



FOREIGN OFFICE REPORTS. 



[Sept. 1895. 



of imitation in the case of butter are also asked for, while 

 almost all parties advocate an international bimetallic standard 

 if possible. 



" The Government is actively supporting and assisting 

 agriculture in numerous indirect ways, such as inspection of 

 meat products, with guarantee of their purity ; information as to 

 the requirements of foreign markets ; advice on best modes of 

 cultivation ; bounty and protection for sugar ; and in general by 

 every means which suggest themselves to a highly trained and 

 sympathising corps of experts held at the disposal of the 

 Secretary for Agriculture since the year 1889. 



Protective duties exist, but as agricultural profits depend on 

 the sale abroad of surplus produce, these duties do not serve 

 their purpose. In the case of wheat especially there can be no 

 protection against the competition of India and the Argentine 

 Republic in the English market. 



" The British agriculturist must probably in the future reckon 

 with the same compelition as heretofore in wheat, meat, and 

 dairy produce. If an37'thing, the competition would appear 

 likely to become more severe as either the cost of production will 

 continue to decrease in the same way as hitherto, or, should the 

 United States change their currency basis from gold to silver, 

 the cost of produce will be reduced when paid for in gold." 



[Foreign Office Report, Miscellaneous Series, No. 860. 

 Trice 2d] 



Apples in Massachusetts. 



In a report for the year 1894 on the agricultural condition of 

 the Boston Consular District, Mr. M, Yeats-Brown, Her Majesty's 

 Consul at Boston (Mass.), quotes the following remarks made by 

 the Pomologist of the Board of Agriculture of Massachusetts in 

 the report on the fruit crop of that State : — 



" The good quality of our crop is much in favour of a large 

 consumption, as the more good fruit the people have the more 

 they want. Should the business interests of the country revive, 

 we may hope for better prices by holding our winter fruit in 

 cold storage or in good fruit cellars. If, however, one has not 

 good facilities for storing, it will be best to dispose of the crop 

 as harvested, if fair prices are offered. A good honest article, 

 whether made in the factory or the farm, will command a fair 

 price and lead to the largest possible consumption, and in the 

 competition of fruit growing every one must make an effort to 

 produce the best possible crop at the lowest possible cost ; and 

 those who succeed in reducing expenses, and at the same time 

 improve the product, are sure of some profit, as in all other 

 businesses. More brain work and better business management 

 is what most of us farmers need. The waste products of many 

 business concerns can be irade a source of income, and in fruit 



