and Price of Wheat, 
345 
whole slightly over the average of the twenty-eight years. The 
adopted average produce showed 3 per cent, over the average 
of the twenty-eight years, and 2 per cent, over the actual average 
on the selected plots — a higher figure than the actual average 
having been adopted in the case of the two years of very low 
produce. 
Within the second period of eight years, there were two of 
the highest yield over the twenty-eight years, two more some- 
what over average, two under, and two much under average. 
In this period highly productive seasons prevailed ; the adopted 
average is 4 per cent, over the average of the twenty-eight years, 
and the actual average on the selected plots is 6 per cent, over, 
or 2 per cent, higher than the adopted average. 
In the third period of eight years there was only one of really 
high produce, two more were over average, one was under, and 
four were considerably under average ; the mean of the whole 
being under average. The adopted average for the period shows 
2 per cent, under the average of the twenty-eight years, whilst 
the average of the experimental plots shows 1 per cent, under 
the average. 
The last four years included only one over average, two under, 
and one (1879) very abnormally under average. Over this 
period, the adopted average amounted to only 89 per cent, of 
that for the twenty-eight years ; and, with the unusual prevalence 
of bad seasons, the experimental plots showed only 71 percent,, 
or much lower than the adopted average. 
Thus, it appears that, in fairly average seasons, the mean 
produce of the experimental plots fairly represents the average 
produce ; that in seasons of unusual abundance the experimental 
plots indicate too high a figure ; and that in seasons of great 
deficiency they give too low a figure. Upon the whole, it is 
concluded that we have no better basis for estimating the 
average yield of the country each year than that of the average 
produce of the same selected plots as heretofore relied upon ; 
but that, as heretofore, some judgment must be exercised each 
year, according to the characters of the season, in deciding 
whether to adopt the actual figure indicated by the experimental 
plots, or in which direction, and in what degree, it should be 
modified. It will, moreover, have to be considered from time 
to time, whether any reduction of area that may take place is in 
greater degree due to the elimination of districts where the soil, 
or the climate, or the combination of the two, is the less, or the 
more, favourable for the crop ; for it is obvious that, other things 
being equal, the average produce per acre of the remaining area 
Avill increase or diminish accordingly. 
