EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE, 367 

The first item on the above table, viz., live stock, includes 
an increase in the value of the horses _ exported, 
which amounts to more than a quarter of a million sterling 
annually when compared with the preceding triennium. The 
annual shipments in the past three years have included 
nearly 600 stallions valued at £69,000, over 7,500 mares valued 
at £267,000, and 26,700 geldings worth £472,000. Germany 
has been our principal customer for stallions, but the 
numbers sent to that country appear to be declining ; on the 
other hand, in 1899 a much larger number of animals, viz. 
282, were sent to the United States and Canada than in 
previous years. The best prices for mares and geldings are 
apparently obtained from France, to which country an average 
number of 4,885 animals have been exported annually in the 
past three years, valued at nearly £60 each. In the case of 
Belgium, however, which took the largest number of animals, 
values ruled much lower, 3,886 mares averaging about £22 
each, and 15,740 geldings only £12 each. To Holland there 
were also exported 6,580 geldings, chiefly of the poorest 
description, valued at only £8 each. 
Cattle occupy a much less prominent place than horses in 
the export of live stock, the annual average during the 
period under review having been 3,205 head valued at 
£110,750. Approximately one-half of the total is made up of 
beef cattle sent to the Channel Islands for food. For the 
remainder, which may be assumed to be breeding stock, 
the principal demand has been made by Argentina, which 
has maintained a steady importation of this class of stock 
for some years past. A considerable extension in the trade 
with the United States and Canada has taken place since 
1897. 
An average of 9,800 sheep or lambs, valued at £113,400, 
has been exported annually in 1897-99, largely to Argentina, 
though the number varies considerably. 
Of home grown meat there was an average exportation of 
111,COO cwts., rather more than one-half being sent to various 
British possessions. Nearly three-fourths of the total shown 
under the heading of dairy produce must be credited 
to condensed milk, of which the quantity shipped in 18094 
