268 Statistics affecting British Agrmiltural Interests. 
at the time of wheat sowing than to any other cause. The 
area lost to wheat was greatest in the counties of the eastern 
and north-eastern division, and least in the northern and north- 
western ; but relatively to the total area under this crop the 
positions were reversed, and an autumn with a heavy rainfall 
appears to have affected the wetter districts of the west more 
than the east. The reduction was general in every county of 
England and in Wales. In Scoijand nine out of the thirty 
counties showed additions to the small wheat area there grown, 
while the rest showed decreases. 
The area under Barley in 1907 was 1,712,094 acres, a decline 
of 39,144 acres as compared with the preceding year, bringing 
the acreage below that of 1905, the lowest figure hitherto 
recorded. The decrease was generally distributed. 
Oats, with an increase of 79,972 acres, or 2'6 per cent., re- 
placed some of the losses under wheat and barley, and reached 
an area of 3,122,898 acres in 1907, the greatest relative increase 
occurring in the west-midland and south-western counties of 
England, where it amounted to just over 6 per cent. 
Beans now occupy 309,730 acres, an increase of 20,839 
acres, or 7-2 per cent, over 1906. For some years past this 
crop has been increasing in favour, and this year’s return 
represents an excess of some 80,000 acres over the minimum 
of 1897. Peas recovered some of the area lost last year, and 
the addition of 12,157 acres, or nearly 8 per cent., brings the 
total acreage up to 166,136 acres. 
Potatoes again showed a decline, but not to such a marked 
degree as in 1906, the deficit this year being 3 per cent. ; and 
the total acreage, 548,920 acres, is the lowest since 1899. 
Turnips and Swedes continue to show a decline. The further 
loss of 27,942 acres, or 1‘8 per cent., bringing the total extent 
of land under this crop in Great Britain down to 1,562,978 
acres — the lowest figure on record. Mangolds, on the other 
hand, being increasingly grown in preference to turnips, 
continue to extend. 
The following summary of the area under the potato and 
root crops is of interest as indicating the relative changes in 
these crops. Turnips occupy now 465,000 acres less and 
mangolds occupy 100,000 acres more than at the earlier date : — 
Periods 
Potatoes 
Turnips and 
Swedes 
Mangolds 
Average of 1877-1886 
„ 1887-1896 
„ 1897-1906 
Acres 
644.000 
546.000 
560.000 
Acres 
2,028,000 
1.9.87.000 
1.670.000 
Acres 
346.000 
347.000 
397.000 
Tear 1907 
549,000 
1,563,000 
450,000 
