Agricultural Returns of 190 i. 169 



August. For the first time this summary supplies parti- 

 culars of the area under each crop ultimately enumerated 

 in the final tables, instead of, as in former years at this date, 

 the areas only of wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, clover, grass 

 and hops. 



The foregoing table compares for Great Britain as a whole 

 the distribution of the acreage returned as under crops and 

 grass in the present year, with the figures for 1900. 



The total acreage under all kinds of crops and grass has 

 again slightly declined by nearly 20,000 acres, which is 

 equivalent to a diminution of one-tenth of one per cent, 

 during the year. 



A reduction of 144,000 acres (7*8 per cent.) brings the total 

 area under wheat once again practically to the level of 1896. 

 Reductions much less important in extent are shown in the 

 other cereals, except rye. Potatoes have increased by 2-8 per 

 cent., and the group of unenumerated g'reen crops by \"j 

 per cent., while the further extension of the acreage under 

 lucerne by 18*6 per cent, is noteworthy. The area under 

 turnips, mangold, vetches, and certain minor green crops 

 has, however, further declined. Gains, on the other hand, 

 of nearly 100,000 acres in each case, are shown in the 

 surface returned as under rotation and permanent grass 

 respectively. The area of clover and rotation grasses 

 reserved for hay was greater by 7 per cent., but permanent 

 grass kept for hay showed a fractional reduction. 



The preliminary statistics of the number of live stock in 

 Great Britain include, for the first time, horses, and these are 

 returned as slightly more numerous than in 1900. An in- 

 crease in the number of cattle of two years and above 

 has not sufficed to avert a decline in the total number of 

 cattle returned, which is due to the reduced numbers of cows 

 and of young stock in the present season. Sheep have, in 

 the aggregate, decreased by less than one per cent., but the 

 breeding flock of ewes appears to have been diminished by 

 i*8 per cent. The numbers of swine have again declined, 

 the total being less by 8*5 per cent, than in 1900. The 

 following table gives the number of live stock in Great 

 Britain : — 



