368 EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. 

was 71,000 cwts., whilst in 1899 185,700 cwts. were 
exported. About one-half was taken by Cape Colony and 
Natal, whilst a large proportion of the remainder was 
sent to other British possessions. Margarine has been 
exported in declining quantities in recent years, while the 
export of butter of home manufacture is another diminishing 
item. The total included in the table under the heading 
“Other Animal Products” is made up principally of wool, 
hides, skins, and grease. The most important item in this 
total is undressed British sheep’s wool, the export of which 
during the past three years ranged between 12,300,000 Ibs. 
and 40,100,0Co lbs., the latter figure, which was reached in 
1897, being the highest ever recorded, and due mainly to tariff 
changes in the United States, to which country the bulk of 
the shipments were sent. Raw hides have been shipped 
from this country to the amount of just over 200,000 cwts. 
annually during the past three years. 
In the case of British sheepskins, a distinct increase has 
taken place in the quantity exported, so that whereas 
the average number for the three years 1894-96 was only 
3,838,000, valued at about 4227,500, the number in 1897- 
99 was 6,723,000 valued at £337,800. Practically the 
entire quantity was consigned to the United States. The 
annual shipments of grease, tallow, and animal fat in the 
same period were 750,000 cwts., Holland and Germany being 
the principal purchasers. 
The only two items of importance under the head of cereal 
products are flourand malt. Of the former about 453,000 
cwts., valued at £220,000, were exported, largely to the 
Channel Islands, Gibraltar, and Malta, while with regard to 
malt, the total. quantity shipped annually in the past three 
years was 125,700 quarters. 
Potatoes, the only British grown vegetable shipped in 
sufficient quantities to be recorded, were exported to the 
extent of about 320,000 cwts. annually in 1897-99. The ship- 
ments to the United States, which were formerly consider- 
able, declined in 1898 to 500 cwts., but rose again in 1899 to 
{10,000 cwts. 
Seeds are shipped in large quantities to Germany, Holland, 
