BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5578, 13 February 1879, Page 3

BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

The following statistics are drawn from the latest volume of the new “ British Encyclopedia." They show a large decrease in the acreage of arable land, and a still larger increase of pasture land. Bat, while the writer is not at all puzzled to find the reason for the decrease in the fact that other countries can raise grain cheaper than England, the relations between an increase of pasture land and a decrease of cattle seem to be rather perplexing. If the decrease of cattle was a factor which stood by itself, we should have no hesitation in declaring that it arose from two causes, viz.: The increasing importation of American beef, and the competition by which American cheese is talcing the place of the English product. And even as the matter stands, we believe these to be the true explanations of this fact. The increase of pasture lands may mean that England finds it more profitable to raise hay for continental markets than attempt to compete with American grain. It appears from the last annual agricultural returns that the extent of arable land in England and Wales is on the decline and also the produce of live stock, while on the other hand the area of pasture land is on the increase. The decline in the acreage of arable land, very marked in the five years from 1872 to 1877, was greater in Wales than in England, and embraced all the principal crops. The land under wheat fell from 8,336,887 acres in 1872, to 2,987,129 in 1877, in England; and from 126,867 acres in 1872, to 100,226 in 1877 in Wales. During the same period, the acreage under potatoes fell in England from 839,656 to 303,964, and in Wales from 48,417 to 42,942; and that under clover in England from 2,832,392 to 2,737,387, and in Wales from 370,850 to 351,897. In the acreage under barley and oats there was a slight increase in England, but a decrease in ■ Wales ; while in the acreage under turnips and weeds there was a trifling increase in England, and a decrease in Wales during that period. . Taken altogether, the extent of arable land in England fell from 13,839,000 acres in 1872 to in 1877, being a decrease of 385.000 acres. In' Wales the extent of arable land sank from 1,104,000 acres to 999,000 acres in the same period ; the decrease of arable land during the five years was very steady, and so likewise was the increase in the acreage of pasture land. There were in England under pasture—exclusive of heath 1and—9,991,000 acres in 1872, and 10,858,000 acres in 1877, the increase in the years amounting to 867,000 acres, being more than double the extent of decrease of arable land. In Wales there were under pasture 1,532,000 acres in 1872, and 1.732.000 acres in 1877, making the increase amount 200,000 acres, this also being not far from double that of the decrease in arable land. The decrease in the extent of arable land, and simultaneous increase of pastures, may be explained by the fact of England being supplied more and more with corn (grain) from foreign countries, where it can be grown cheaper than at home. Naturally the produce of pasture lands cannot be brought in the same way into this country. If the decrease of arable land and increase of pastures can be thus explained, it is not so easy to account for the decline of live stock which also took place during the same period, more especially from 1874. It might have been that the widening of the pastoral area would have led to an increase in live stock, but

the contrary was the case, more especially as regards horned cattle and sheep. In England there were 4,305,440 head of cattle in June, 1874, and 3,976,650 head in June, 1877, so that there was a decrease of 325,790 head in three years. Daring tbe same period the number of cattle in Wales fell from 665,105 to 616,209, being a decline of 47,896. The decrease in numbers was even greater in sheep. There were 19,859,758 sheep in England in June, 1874, and 18,330,377 in June, 1877, being a decrease of 202,683. Thus the total decline in tbe number of sheep in England and Wales was no less than 1,732,064 in the short space of three years. Tbe great diminution of live stock during the triennial period from 1874 to 1877 was not confined to England and Wales, but occurred simultaneously in Scotland, as well as in Ireland, being greatest in the latter country, where the decline in sheep alone amounted to 10J per cent.