Hovie Produce, Imports, and Consumption of Wheat. 38t) 
the aggregate homo-produce available as human food diminished 
by about 2f per cent. On the other hand the imports have 
increased by more than 65 per cent., and the total wheat con- 
sumed by about 14 per cent. The population has, however, 
increased by scarcely 8 J per cent. The general result is an 
increase in consumption per head of more than 5 per cent., a 
decrease from 75 to (J4 per cent, in the proportion in which the 
total consumption per head is supplied by home resources, and an 
increase from 25 to iiG per cent, in the proportion in which it is 
supplied from imports. 
The records botli as to home-produce and imports are more 
complete for Ireland than for any other part of the United 
Kingdom. The comparison of the results relating to the two 
periods of eight years each shows a diminution of area under 
wheat during the latter period of about 29 per cent., a diminution 
in yield per acre of about 17 per cent., and a diminution of home- 
produced wheat available for consumption of about 43 per cent. 
Against this very marked reduction in the home supplies of 
wheat in Ireland we have an increase in the imports of about 
123 per cent. ; the result being an increase in the total wheat con- 
sumed in the country of about 14 per cent., whilst the population 
has diminished between 5 and 6 per cent. The general result is 
an increase in the total consumption of wheat per head in Ireland 
of more than 20 per cent. ; and, of the total amount consumed 
per head, there has been a diminution in that supplied by home 
produce from 66 to 33 per cent., and an increase in that supplied 
by imports from 34 to 67 per cent. 
Obviously, the point of greatest national interest and importance 
to consider is the progressive or retrogressive position of the 
United Kingdom as a whole in regard to the several elements of 
this wide question. Comparing the last eight with the preceding 
eight years, the figures show a diminution of area under wheat in 
the United Kingdom during the later period of between 8 and 
9 per cent., an increase in yield per acre of about 1 'j- per cent., and 
a diminution in the total wheat supplied from home produce of 
nearly 7 per cent. There is, on the other hand, an increase in the 
foreign supplies of about 74 per cent. The result is an increase 
in the aggregate amount of wheat consumed in the United 
Kingdom of between 14 and 16 per cent., with an increase 
of population of only about 5J per cent. Or, looking to the 
consumption per head of the population, the proportion pro- 
vided by the home supplies has diminished from 73 to 60 per 
cent. ; whilst that supplied by foreign produce has increased 
from 27 to 40 per cent. ; the result of the whole being an increase 
in the total consumption per head during the later period of 
between 8 and 9 per cent. 
