116 PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS. 
totals show an increase not indicated elsewhere on the ten 
years average of 1886-95. 



Period. ee France. United Lae tralasia 
ingdom. States. | 
No. “4. No | No. ime 
Average of 1886-95 - - : : - | 30,700,000 21,800,000 43,700,000 | 10g, 200,000 
Single year 1896 - - - : - | 30,900,000 21,200,000 | 36,800,000 | 110,500,000 
Single year 1897 . - 28 28 - | 30,€00,000 21,400,000 | 37,700,000 | 103,500,000 
eee: | 
Single year 1898 - - - - - | 31,100,000 | 21,300,000 | 39,100,000 | 100,500,000 

It appears that as many as 400 sheep per 1,000 acres of total 
surface are still maintained here, while in the east of Europe, 
according to the last returns, Bulgaria and Servia follow with 
tlocks of 290 and 259 respectively, on asimilar area. France, 
however, has only 164, Roumania 155, Denmark 115, Spain 
107, and Hungary 102 per 1,000 acres of surface, and other 
European States fall below these ratios. 
Moreover, so far as it is possibie to compare the position 
of matters in European States with what it was five-and-twenty 
or thirty years ago, Major Craigie concludes that the flocks 
of the United Kingdom would seem to have suffered far less 
depletion than others, since they have only declined by 74 
per cent., while those of Belgium are fewer by 60 per cent., 
those of Germany by 57 per cent., those of Hungary by 46 per 
cent., and those of Denmark by 42 per cent, over this 
lengthened period. 

Board of Agriculture.—Annual Report of Proceedings under 
the Tithe and other Acts administercd tn the Land Drviston 
Jor the year 1899. [Cd. 106. Price 2ha,| 
The total number of applications to the Board of Agri- 
culture for tithe redemption showed a further increase 
in 1899, the number being 1,134 as compared with 1,034 in 
1898, and 853 in 1897. In connection with those applications 
which are effected under the compulsory powers contained in 
the Tithe Acts, the existing method has recently been under 
consideration, and it has been found that although under the 
