770 The Future of Agricultural .Comitetition. 
cades, though poultry and game are classed together, and values 
only are given : — 
1870 
i 1880 
1890 
Poultry and game , . 1 
Eggs (thousands) . . i 
158,482Z. 
430,842 
421,645^. 
747,409 i 
497,858?. 
l,234,!)4i» 
The increase in imports of poultry during the last ten years 
has not been great ; but that of imports of eggs has been both 
great and steady. Our system of distribution in respect of 
poultry and eggs is a very bad one, the difference between the 
prices paid by consumers and those received by producers being 
inordinately great. An improvement in the marketing system 
would greatly help home producers. 
Growers of fruit in this country are now holding their own 
well against their foreign competitors, and are likely to do so 
better in future, as production under glass is increasing. With 
the exception of apples, the imports of fruit consist chiefly of the 
early produce of more sunny climes than ours, and it is only by 
the more extensive use of glass houses that we can meet the 
competition. Apples have come in greater and greater quantity, 
as a rule, since 1882, when they were first separately returned. 
Imports rose from 2,386,805 bushels in that year to o,79G,o92 
bushels in 1888, but have not been so plentiful since, because 
the American crops have been deficient. This year, however, 
the supply is a large one. There are difficulties in respect of 
planting fruit trees which cannot be entered into on the present 
occasion. If they are surmounted, we can easily grow all the 
apples we need. The system of marketing fruit, however, greatly 
needs improvement. 
Imports of hops have fallen off" greatly since 1885, so that 
the depression suffered by English growers recently cannot be 
attributed to foreign competition. The growth of hops in Aus- 
tralia has declined, and, although it has increased in America, 
the increment in production, apparently, has not been nmch if 
at all greater than that of the demand. The quality of English 
hops is so exceptionally high that there appears to be no need to 
fear the future of foreign competition in this product. ' 
On the whole, although there are possible dangers ahead 
some of which have been noticed, while others may appea 
hereafter, there is good reason, in my opinion, to take a hopefu 
view of the future of agricultural competition. One great fac 
tells unquestionably in favour of the producers of food : jiamely 
that while the people to be fed are constantly increasing ii 
