population in recent years, before the census of 1891 was taken, was set too high. This fault probably does not apply to the figures for 1870, as they were published after the census of 1871 was taken, while the population for 1890 is corrected by the census figures for 1891. The following estimates, added to those given above, were published by Sir James Caird in 1877, by Major Craigie in 1885, and by myself in 1886 :— Year. Home Supply. Imported Supply. Total. Per Head. 1051 103 1870 Cwts. 26,571,022 29,392,281 112 ... 109 ... 42,292,094 1261 ... 9,100,000 35,782,000 12,653,071 In 1886 the number of sheep and pigs and the imported supply were less than in 1885. Depression in 1886, too, was severe, many men being out of employment, and wages having been reduced in some avocations. But, as already remarked, the quantity of meat consumed per head would have come out greater for 1885 and 1886 if the population had been known correctly. The percentages of the home and imported supplies shown by the figures given above are as follows: PERCENTAGES OF HOME AND IMPORTED MEAT. It will be seen that there was a great rise in the imported percentage between 1870 and 1877, and that the advance has been steady since then, except that the jump-up in the four years ending with 1890 is a considerable one. There will be a drop, however, for 1891, imports having fallen off greatly, while the home supply has been increased. Turning to dairy produce, the table already given shows how great the increase of imports has been since 1870. The net imports of butter and margarine together have advanced from 1,101,682 cwts. in 1870 to 2,987,220 cwts. in 1890, showing an increase of 1,885,538 cwts., or 171 per cent. The advance in the net imports of cheese has been from 1,016,087 cwts. in 1870 to 2,072,161 cwts. in 1890, showing an increase of 1,056,074 cwts., or 103 per cent. The cows and heifers in milk or in calf for the United Kingdom during the same period have increased from 3,705,553 to 3.956,220, showing an addition of 250,667, or barely of 7 per cent. In spite of the fact that during a considerable portion of the twenty years there was a tendency towards breeding almost exclusively for beef, the improvement in our dairy cows in recent years has been so marked that it is certain that the yield of milk per cow on the average is greater now than it was in 1870; but so much more. milk is consumed in its natural state that there can scarcely have been any material increase in the home supply of butter or cheese. In 1886 I made careful estimates for that year as compared with 1876, with the following results : As the increase in the number of cows since 1876 was only 181,017 up to 1890, I am of opinion that the proportions of the home supplies of either butter or cheese have diminished rather than increased, because of the increased consumption of milk in its natural state. They have certainly diminished since 1886, when the number of cows and heifers was greater by 18,256 than in 1890. As far as dairy produce is concerned, then, the only considerable increase in the home supply for any of the periods mentioned has been in milk, and that must have been great. The increase in imports of lard, as shown in the table, has been enormous. Imports of eggs have been almost constantly increasing during the last thirty years. Poultry and game imports are shown only in values, and the figures are £158,482 for 1870, and £497,858 for 1890. Rabbits were not separately given prior to 1886. For 1890 the quantity imported was 143,641 cwts. There are no trustworthy data for estimating the home supplies of eggs, poultry, and game at the different periods. As there are no official statistics giving the quantities of corn and other vegetable products grown at home as far back as 1870,' I shall show only the net imports for the different periods, taking only the kinds which are grown in the United Kingdom, with maize added. The remarks already made on the acreage of crops show that the home supplies of corn, at any rate, have diminished, and a rough estimate of the decrease in wheat production has already been given. Seeds and cakes are also included in the table, because they have indirectly to do with our food supply: These figures show that, since 1870, our net imports of wheat have increased nearly six-fold, and those of wheat flour about three and a-half times, while the total for all kinds of corn and meal is nearly trebled. With respect to potatoes, the imports in 1870 were exceptionally small. Other vegetables and fruits were given in mixed lots in 1870; but there is no doubt that the increase has been considerable, though not equal to the increase of home produce, as market gardens and fruit plantations have been largely extended. Tropical fruits are not included in the total for "other raw fruit." Our imports of other culinary vegetables than potatoes and onions are unimportant, the value in 1890 having been only £773,590. The immense growth of our dependence upon foreign countries for our supplies of food is to be regretted. To some extent it has been inevitable, but not altogether. The settlement of vast acres of new land since 1870 for * Gross imports, value only being given for exported British meal. + Not distinguished for 1870. a time swamped the markets with corn and some other kinds of produce. But with respect to many of the items enumerated in the tables given, we should never have fallen so much behind in our home supplies if all that could have been done had been done to attract capital and stimulate enterprise in connection with the land. WILLIAM E. BEAR. |
