492 



Imports of Agricultural Produce. 



Of the 3,702,810 cwts. of butter imported last year, Denmark 

 contributed 1,597,186 cwts., or 110,844 cwts. more than in 

 1 goo. From British Colonies we received 631,099 cwts., viz., 

 413,134 cwts. from Australasia, and 215,588 cwts. from Canada. 

 The other principal contributors were — Russia, 378,452 cwts.; 

 France, whence the imports of butter have been slowly but 

 steadily declining for some years, 311,601 cwts.; the Nether- 

 lands, 298,912 cwts.; Sweden, 180,212 cwts.; and the United 

 States, 150,126 cwts. Among the minor contributors to our 

 supplies of butter last year were Germany, Belgium, Italy, 

 Argentina, and Norway. The average value of the imports 

 of this commodity was 104s, 3d- per cwt., as compared with 

 103s. 4d. per cwt. in 1900. Of cheese, 2,586,885 cwts. were 

 imported last year, this quantity being 118,993 cwts. short of 

 the importation of 1900 ; but 202,816 cwts. in excess of that of 

 the preceding year. Canada was, as usual, credited with 

 the greatest share of this trade, her consignments having 

 amounted to 1,547,779 cwts., as compared with 1,511,872 

 cwts. in the previous year. The United States furnished 

 540,102 cwts., and 315,930 cwts. were provided by Holland. 

 The average value of imported cheese last year was 48s. 2d. 

 per cwt, or 2s. 5d. per cwt. less than in 1900. 



In the case of fresh milk and cream the imports consisted 

 of 14,474 cwts. of fresh milk, 6,379 cwts. of cream and 3,569 

 cwts. of preserved milk. 



The increasing demand for foreign eggs has long been evi- 

 dent from the steady growth of the imports of these articles : 

 the entries in 1901 were 190,717 great hundreds (1 2r>) in excess 

 of those of 1900, and 898,039 great hundreds more than 

 in 1 8 99- The increase last year was due mainly to larger 

 shipments from Russia and Denmark. From the former 

 country we received 4,492,110 great hundreds, and Denmark 

 contributed 3,019,414 great hundreds. Russian eggs now 

 constitute about 25 per cent, of the entire foreign supply. 

 Among our other purveyors of these articles last year were 

 Germany, Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, 

 Canada, Spain, United States, Egypt, and Morocco. The 

 average declared value was 6s. 5d. per great hundred of 120. 



The imports of horses, poultry, and miscellaneous animal 

 products are shown in the next table. 



