110 Home Produce, Imports, Consumption, and 
fairly uniform average amounts ; the second, however, rather more 
than the first. . The third period gives considerably less, the 
fourth less still, and the fifth period, 1884-91, inclusive, con- 
siderably the highest of the five. Directing attention first to 
the estimates as formerly given, that is, at 61 lb. per bushel, it 
is seen that the average of the first two eight-yearly periods in- 
dicates somewhat more than 28 bushels per annum; and up to 
comparatively recent years we reckoned the general average 
yield of the United Kingdom at 28 \ bushels. The third and 
fourth periods taken together show, however, an average of 
scarcely 25| bushels. The fifth period, on the other hand, 
shows an average of 29§ bushels, or one bushel higher than even 
the highest of either of the preceding eight-yearly periods. 
The fact is, that within the fifth eight-yearly period there 
was only one year with an estimated yield of less than 28 
bushels ; whilst the second eight-yearly period, which gives the 
nest highest average, although it included two years, 1863 and 
1864, of the highest yield of the forty, and two others of more 
than average yield, at the same time included four years of con- 
siderably less than average. There can, indeed, be no doubt, 
that the eight years commencing with 1884 and ending with 
1891 gave a higher average yield of wheat per acre than any 
equal period of the forty years. Notwithstanding this, however, 
with the very low average yields over the third and fourth 
periods, the average of the forty years shows only 274 bushels 
at 61 lb. per bushel, against rather more than 28 assumed to 
be the general average of the country over the early years.- Of 
course, reckoned at 60 lb. per bushel, the figures are so much 
higher ; but, even so reckoned, the average yield of the forty 
years is only 27| bushels, that is, less than 28 as formerly as- 
sumed, whilst the average yield of the last eight years, 1884- 
91 inclusive, is 29| bushels, or 2 bushels more than the 
average of the forty years, and 24 bushels more than over the 
preceding thirty-two years. 
The Aggregate Home Crop, and the Amount of it available 
for Consumption. 
The next Table (VIII.) shows, for each of the eight-yearly 
periods, and for the forty years, the average annual total home 
produce, calculated from the recorded area under the crop, and 
the estimated average yield per acre ; also the amount of it 
estimated to be available for consumption, after deducting from 
the total the amount assumed to be required for seed. The 
first two columns show the so-reckoned total and available 
