212 HIRING FAIRS IN ENGLAND. 


quantity declined to 314 lbs. (14°25 kilos.) and in the following 
year of famine, when the yield was almost identical with 
that of the current season 1899-1900, Viz., 4,893,000 tons, 
only 18 lbs. (8:25 kilos.) were given for a rupee. In the two 
following years, with improved prospects, 313 lbs. (1437 
kilos.) and 384 lbs. (17°5 kilos.) could be obtained; but 
immediately on the failure of the monsoon in September, 
1899, prices rose and the quantity per rupee declined to 
253 lbs. (11°69 kilos.) which was about the figure in March 
last. 
With regard to the wheat export, this—as a consequence, 
u0 doubt, of bad and indifferent harvests—has shown a 
considerable falling off in recent years, the averages for 
quinquennial periods since 1879-€0 being as follows :— 
P Tons. 
1879-80 to 1883-84 : - - - - 647,400 
1884-85 ,, 1888-89 - - - - : 903, 300 
SIO Fy USB SS BERETS 
1394-95) 55) 1598-99) 00-0 0 eyes 
The above figures are exclusive of wheat flour, which 
shows some tendency to increase, the average for five years 
1889-90 to 1893-4 being 25,300 tons, and for 1894-5 to 1898-99 
30,400 tons. 
As regards the remaining food-grains, maize is grown 
on about 54 million acres, chiefly in Bengal and the Panjab, 
and is used for home consumption, no export of this article 
being recorded. Barley has varied in the five years 1894-98 
from 5 to 8 million acres, and is chiefly cultivated in the 
North-West Provinces and Oudh, Panjab and Bengal. A 
small export takes place, varying from one to four thousand 
tons. 

HIRING FAIRS IN ENGLAND. 
Hiring fairs, though formerly in existence in many parts of 
iingland, are now mainly confined to the Northern Counties. 
Even in these districts there has been a marked tendency in 
recent years for the best men to get re-engaged by their old 
employers, or by new masters, without going to the fairs. 
