400 
Our Imports of Haij. 
Thus in 1892 just one-half of our imports were of European origin; 
whilst North America contributed only 40 per cent. In 1893, on 
the other hand, North America accounted for over 62 per cent., the 
European tribute being but 26 per cent. ; so that, whilst the former 
continent sent us about two-thirds of our total import, Europe did 
not make up more than about one-fourth. For the first five months 
of the present year the disparity is still more pronounced ; for, whilst 
the North American supply has risen to 70 per cent, of the total 
import, the proportion from European countries remains practically 
stationary at 27 per cent. The fact, no doubt, is that several 
European countries have like ourselves been in want of hay, owing 
to the ill effects of last year’s drought. 
Lastly, an inquiry into the gross monthly imports gives the 
Table III . — Monthly Imports of Hay into the United Kingdo m. 
Twelve months ended December 31 
Five months, January to May . 
1893 
Tons 
. 53,721 
1892 
Tons 
21,607 
June ....... 
9,045 
4,459 
July 
. 18,636 
3,614 
August ...... 
. 38,416 
2,497 
September 
. 35,948 
4,723 
October ...... 
. 28,923 
7,412 
November ...... 
. 41,047 
7,740 
December 
. 37,314 
9,185 
Total .... 
. 263,050 
61,237 
Five months ended May 31 
January 
1894 
Tons 
. 31,967 
1893 
Tons 
8,368 
February 
. 26,745 
9,248 
March . . . . 
. 41,132 
12,474 
April ....... 
. 35,560 
13,394 
May 
. 33,127 
10,237 
Total .... 
. 168,531 
53,721 
results recorded in Table III. As a matter of fact, the importation 
never reached a monthly total of 10,000 tons till March, 1893. 
During the twelve months extending from June, 1893, to May, 1894, 
the highest monthly import was that of March, 1894 ; but the 41,132 
tons in that month are closely approached by the 41,047 tons in 
November, 1893. It cannot be argued that the import for May, 1894, 
shows any effective decline, for it is greater than the import in any 
of the months of June, July, October, January, and February. 
Within the last twelve months our total imports of hay from all 
sources for the year ended May 31, 1894, amounted to 377,860 tons. 
The produce of hay in the year 1893, from both temporary and 
permanent grass land, in England and Wales, was estimated at the 
low total of 3,830,405 tons. Hence it would appear that our imports 
