attention to the fact, that while the population had largely increased between 1850 and 1860, the supply of food had increased in a greater ratio. He states, p. cxxix, 'It will be seen that in proportion to population, taking the states and territories together, there has been an increase in our principal crops since 1850. Of wheat, Indian corn, barley, rye, oats, buckwheat, and peas and beans, we raised, in 1850, 38-28 bushels to each inhabitant, and in 1860, 39-15 bushels. This shows an increase in the total amount of these crops of nearly one bushel to each inhabitant since 1850.' The population of the States had in that period increased from 23,191,876 to 31,443,322, and I think, Mr. Kennedy talks rather disparagingly of American agriculture, when it has more than met wants of such a vastly increased population.

The agricultural returns of the United Kingdom are much less authentic. It is difficult to give a definitive opinion as to its progress. Mr. Colquhoun* estimated the produce of grain in 1812 at 35,000,000 qrs. Mr. Spackman in 1834 estimated it at 56,000,000 qrs. Mr. M'Culloch in 1858 made it 41,974,000 qrs. The latter writer, considers that the grain consumed by man, was 33,000,000 qrs., and by animals, 16,000,000 qrs., making a total of 49,000,000 qrs., from which he deducts 7,000,000 qrs., being the average imports for seven years to 1858, 'leaving the quantity of British produce, 42,000,000 qrs.' He includes in that consumed by man the grain used for malting, &c. If each person used aquarter of grain per annum the consumption would have been 29,000,000 qrs., and it would have left 3,000,000 qrs. for brewing. As there has been a large increase in the foreign imports, while the population has not materially * See Appendix

CEREALS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

241

increased, and as man cannot consume more than the average quantity, say a quarter per annum, we may safely assume that there has been a decrease in the production of grain. The imports of grain during the three years 1861 to 1863 were-1861, 14,279,054 qrs.; 1862, 16,375,192 qrs.; 1863, 13,857,399 qrs., making an average of 14,837,000, or nearly 8,000,000 qrs. more than the average of the seven years taken by Mr. M'Culloch to 1858.* This would show a reduction in the quantity of British produce, to 34,000,000 quarters, or about the estimate made by Mr. Colquhoun in 1812. The area of land under grain in Great Britain, was less in 1854 than it had been in 1800, though the population had doubled. The quantity of corn sold in the 290 markets of England which send returns, shows a decrease of twenty-five per cent. In 1843 the sales were 10,280,444 qrs., in 1862 it had fallen to 7,550,217 qrs. In Scotland there was also a decrease in the area under grain. The same occurred in Ireland, where the yield is annually estimated, and it appears that between 1847 and 1864 there was a decrease in produce of 5,693,367 qrs. of There has, in each country been a decrease in the rural population; in other words, in the labour applied to land: we might safely have predicated, that there would be a decrease in its produce, inasmuch as the quantity of produce, may be measured by the amount of labour applied to tillage.

corn.

The falling off in the culture of grain, has lessened the area under cultivation, and diminished the supply of winter food for cattle. This has produced a corresponding decrease in the quantity of

* See Appendix.

R

meat. Mr. Spackman estimated the consumption in 1834 as follows ::

Mr. M'Culloch is more moderate in his estimate; he states the entire number of cattle in the United Kingdom at 6,000,000, and supposes that one-fourth or 1,500,000, are slaughtered annually.

The live stock of the United Kingdom, when reduced to its equivalents in cattle, was as follows :—

If one-fourth of this were slaughtered annually it would make the yearly supply 2,850,000 head; the average weight would be about 600lb. each, or 57lb. of meat per annum for each individual. I doubt if the consumption is so great as this.

The exports of cattle from Ireland have latterly been immature, or store animals which are afterwards fattened in England. They were in 1846 186,483 head, in 1863, 399,264 head.

The arrivals of Irish bacon in London were:

IMPORTS OF CATTLE INTO GREAT BRITAIN.

243

Each bale contains the carcasses of two pigs. The number of live pigs shipped from Ireland in 1835 was estimated at 1,500,000, in 1846 it was 480,827, and in 1863, 357,938.

There has been a great advance in the price of meat in the United Kingdom. According to a parliamentary return, the average prices were as follows:

This advance of price must have affected other countries besides England: it arises either from an increase of consumption, or a decrease in the supply. I believe it will be found to be traceable principally to the latter. From 1842 to 1845 there were not any large imports of foreign cattle. During the past three years, the imports from foreign countries*

If there had been no decrease, in the supply of home-reared and home-fed meat, these large importations from abroad, being an addition to the supply of our markets, should have reduced the price, but when there is such a serious advance in price, it indicates the alternative, that there has

* See Appendix.

pan the magij. The returns of 1 s Instrite this phase. They en & smaller supply of homehan in 1853 and 1854.

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