22S 
The Ar/ricultural Returns (?/"1866 and 1867. 
2. rroiiovtlouatc number of cattlo \ , i^^i l i i 
^ 1^ ^ ^ i to every 100 acres returned as under 
" " ^ ' ^' I cultivation. 
J. „ ) 
3. Percentap;e of acreage under tlic several kinds of corn crops to total 
acreage under corn crops. 
4. Percentage of acreage under the several kinds of green crops to total 
acreage under green crops. 
For each county percentages are given : — 
1. Of acreage under corn crops to total acreage returned as under culti- 
vation. 
2. Of cattle ] 
'„ sheep [ to total acreage returned as under cultivation. 
" » pigs ) 
Now, in view of the fact that the acreage returned as under 
cultivation falls considerably short of the acreage available and 
absolutely used for the sustenance of stock, and that this defi- 
ciency is strongly marked in some counties, while in others it is 
of small account, it seems clear that a basis less open to objec- 
tion than that of the area returned as under culture should be 
adopted for calculation. In comparative statistics the first con- 
sideration ought to be to fix upon a unit of value that is 
applicable to all the elements of comparison, and that is as 
nearly as possible invariable in itself. To get the just measure 
of variation in returns of acreage under different kinds of culti- 
vation in different localties, and at different periods, the following 
method of arranging the facts and calculating the ratios is 
suggested. Take the County of Bedford as an example : — 
Total area 295'582 
Returned as under cultivation in 1867 249,615 
Unaccounted for 45,967 
Pasture 73,250 
Arable 176,365 
Under corn crops 114,724 
Under green crops (including: clover, kc, and I'.ops) 49,880 
Bare fallow ; 11,761 
From these facts the following ratios arc derived : — 
Per Cont. 
1. Proportion of total area returned as under cM?itTOi;<'oM .. .. 84 
2. „ ,, left unaccounted for 16 
