122 
Agricultural Statistics . 
Whether the results from the use of lithium phosphate and 
magnesia are to be explained as the outcome of direct chemical 
action on the plant, or as that of influence on the bacterial 
nature of the soil, remains a matter for further inquiry, but 
that these bodies do exert a striking influence upon the plant 
and produce marked changes in the soil to which they have 
been applied, is abundantly exemplified by these experiments. 
J. Augustus Voelcker. 
1 Tudor Street, E.C. 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. 
By the kindness of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in 
supplying early copies of certain of the Agricultural Returns 
compiled in the form required for comparative purposes, it is 
once more possible to include the most recent statistics affect- 
ing British Agricultural interests in the Society’s Journal. 
Acreage of Crops. 
The first Table, 44 Acreage under Crops and Grass, and Number 
of Live Stock” gives the numbers for England, Wales, Great 
Britain and the United Kingdom, for the beginning of June, 
1912 and 1913. The area under crops and grass last year 
showed a decrease of 39,698 acres in England, 68,723 in Great 
Britain, and 52,133 in the United Kingdom. 
Arable Land showed a decrease of 231,991 acres in England, 
or 2J per cent., and 300,116 acres in Great Britain, or 2 per 
cent. Permanent Pasture showed an increase of 195,296 acres, 
or just under 1*5 per cent, in England, and 231,393 acres, or 
1*25 per cent, in Great Britain. 
The total area last year under corn crops in Great Britain 
was 6,921,792 acres us compared with 7,151,676 acres of the 
year before, showing a decrease of 29,881 acres. In England 
the area last year was 5,386,958 as compared with 5,581,665, 
showing a decrease of 191,707 acres. 
In the case of individual crops Wheat decreased by 158,199 
acres, or 8.5 per cent, in England, and by 169,365 acres, or 8*7 
per cent, in Great Britain. Barley on the other hand showed an 
increase in England of 101,737 acres, 7*6 per cent., and in Great 
Britain an increase of 108,903, or 6*6 per cent. Oats showed a 
decrease of 93,322 acres, or 5 per cent, in England, and 116,438 
acres, or 3*9 in Great Britain ; Rye a decrease of 4,217 acres in 
Great Britain ; Beans a decrease of 11,175 or 3*9 per cent, in 
Great Britain ; and Peas the considerable decrease of 37,562 
acres, or 18 per cent, in Great Britain. 
