284=15 
British Agriculture. 
Quantity anil 
value of home 
and foreign 
agricultural 
produce, re- 
spectively, con- 
sumed annu- 
ally in the 
British Islands. 
The total valuo of the home crop is more than the double 
of that which we import, but the proportion of vegetable and 
animal food is singularly close, as will be seen by this farther 
arrangement of the figures : — 
Home Growth. Foreign. 
Vahie of corn and ve2;ef able produce £125 , 737 , 500 £52 , 537 , 500 
Value of animal produce .. .. 135,000,000 58,170,000 
The quantity of Indian corn imported in 1876 was nearly 
40,000,000 cwt., an amount quite exceptional and unprece- 
dented, and therefore not included in its full amount in the 
preceding Table. 
CHAPTER IT. 
The reaping 
and mowing 
machines. 
Changes and Progress of Agriculture in recent Years. 
The most Before entering on a more detailed description of the prin- 
striking fea- ciples which regulate the agriculture and general management of 
a^riculturaT landed property in this country, it may be useful shortly to 
progress. notice its more recent progress, and those changes of practice 
which science or art, or the circumstances of his position in 
regard to competition or labour, have forced on the British 
farmer. With a few exceptions the change will be found rather 
in the more general diffusion of a knowledge of good principles 
and practice than in any considerable advance upon either. 
The most striking feature of agricultural progress within tin 
last twenty years has been the general introduction of reapini: 
machines, one of which can do the work of ten men. Tlii 
has multiplied the effect of human labour tenfold, and that a 
the most critical season, the harvest, when the entire crop ripen 
• within a fortnight, and must with all possible expedition h 
saved without loss of time. For haymaking, a similar machin 
is in the same proportion available. It would be difHcult 
reckon the vast saving which the introduction of this raos 
important invention has made at these most critical period 
haytime and harvest. 
The steam- Next to it is the steam-plough, which, on heavy land and 
plough. large fields, especially where coal is moderate in cost and watt 
easily available, is both economical and expeditious. A steanr 
plough capable of ploughing ten acres a day, will do the labo> 
of ten men and twenty horses, and will execute the work mu( 
more effectively, and with no injurious trampling of the tend 
soil. But it is as yet a costly implement, beyond the reach 
small fanners except when hired as an auxiliary, and not capab 
of doing its work with economy within small enclosures. Tl 
