The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-21 00:00:00

AGE ICUL7 URAL STATISTICS.

The statistics of importation quoted the other week
prove that the population of the United Kingdom is
becoming more and more dependent upon foreign supplies.
The question then arises, are we falling behind in our
own production absolutely or only relatively to the
rapidly-growing demand ? It is at this point that we
feel the want of agricultural statistics. The abstract
which has been lately issued states that the acreage
under grain in the United Kingdom has increased from
11,459,296 acres in 1866 to 11,660,049 in IE6B, an improve-
ment of less than 2 per cent. in three years. The acreage
under green crops shews much worse results, having
actually fallen from 5,064,358 in 1E66 to 4,864,877 in
18f78. The number cf cattle has increased from
8,50,693 to 9,083,416, an advance of 6 per cent. ; sheep
from 26,380,248 to 35,607,812, an increase of more than 33
per cent. ; while pigs have fallen elf from 3,997,780 to
3,189,167. But the tables are unsafe guides for several
reasons—they only include the last three years, and they
are notoriously defective in the returns from particular
districts, And as for the live stock, the comparison does not
hold good between the 'first return taken before the lamb-
ing season was over, and time last return, which includes
all the lambs, except those which had been killtd and
eaten. On referring to the elaborate pamphlet issued
some time back by 'Messrs. J. 13. Laves and J. IM. Gilbert,
on the " Home Produce, Imports, and Consumption of
Wheat," we find that they estimate the area under that
cereal to have diminished from 4,006,t;69 in 1854 5 to
3,750,812 in 1868.9, and these last figures do not greatly
differ from what the official return, so far as it goes, tells
us. The latter, however, gives an estimate of increase in
all grain, wheat included ; and, as the point is of some
importance, our regret is all the greater that reluctance
to give information of slid' interest should deprive us of
all means of .arriving at the exact truth. We are afraid,
however, the figures tell us quite enough for our purpose;
urproximative as they may be, they seem to shew be-
yond dispute that while our home production of food
has, on the whole, increased, it has in no instance
kept pace with the increase' in consumption of im-
ported food, while in some respects it has fallen back.
Absolutely
.t here is an augmentation ; relatively to demand
we are sure there is • not. But if we consume more and
more every year of food from abroad, while our own agri-
culturists are also producing more largely, what is the
inference? The import is increasing because the home
market is. constantly getting snore clamorous for supplies.
We receive more because the demand is greater.— chamber
of Agriculture Tovrnal.

Said one gentleman of honour to another, "If
you don't accept my challenge, I shall post you in the
apers." "Go ahead," said the other, "I had rather fill
a dozen papers than one coffin."
No arrest has been made in the matter of the out-
rage on Mr. Warburton, High Sheriff. of Quo'n's county.
'rho county magistrates have held a meeting and excressed
a determination to use their ntmost effort to bring the per-
petrator of the outrage to justice. Mr. Warburton is only
twenty-six years of ego.

Ilse advowson and next ptnentation to the
Rectory of Onilury, near Ludlow, is to be Fold by auction
on Tuevcbty, August 3. It is stated that "the United Pack
and the Ludlow hounds hunt in the neighbourhood." The
living is worth £530 a year. The r ment rector is sixty-
four years of age, and the ratron is the Earl of Craven.

It is whispered that Mr. Rupert Kettle's services
as an arbitrator in trade disputes, which have hitherto
been gratuitously rendered by that gentleman pro bono
publico, are not unlikely to be recognised by the
Government, and it is just possible that henceforth, when,
instead of " striking," the workpeople are disposed, as
Punch advises them, to "put the Kettle on," they may do so
under the official sanction of the State.

A Select Committee on Parliamentary and Muni-
cipal Elections concluded the examination of witnesses earlier
than was anticipated. Mr. JustiCe Keogh was to have been
examined respecting the late election inquiries in Ireland
over which his lordship presided, but in consequence of the
learned judge being on circuit, his evidence has been dis-
pensed with. The committee will meet on Friday next to
"consider on a report," but it is generally understood that
the committee will be reappointed next session.
THE PROPOSED DEPUTATION TO MR. GLAD-
STONE.—The deputation which it was announced would
wait upon the Prime Minister to present the mass of reso-
lutions passed all over the country condemnatory of the
Lords' amendments has been postponed. The following
extract from a circular issued by the Birmingham Liberal
Association explains the reason :—" In consequence of the
prompt and decisive action in the House of Commons, we
have decided not to hold the intended conference, but to
wait the course of events."

INSPECTOR TANNER.—After 20 years' service in
the Detective Department of Scotland-yard, Inspector Tan-
ner has retired from the police force on a pension of £lOO
a year. In the course of his connection with the police
Mr. Tanner has been very successful in tracing and
arresting celebrated criminals. Among those whom be
apprehended were Mullins, who murdered Mrs Emsley ;
Forward, the murderer of three children in a coffee-house
at Holborn ; llunt, who committed murder in a cab ; and
who killed Mr. Briggs on the North London
Railway, having arrested him in New York.

The Birmingham papers publish a note from
Mr. Plant, tho well-known metcorologist: —The weather
became suddenly hot on Saturday afternoon, ho remarks.
The thermometer registered 86 degrees in the shade at
Moseley. The air was calm and the heat was very op-
lre.•sive all Saturday night, the lowest reading being 63
degrees. By eight a.m. on Sunday the thermometer
was 80 degrees, and at 3 p.m. 88 degrees (in the shade).
Suddenly the wind, which had been southelly to south.
west, veered to the north-north-west, blowing a gale from
that quarter, and by sunset the thermometer had receded to
621 degrees. The rainfall iu Birmingham for the 80 days
since the 18th of Juno is almost nil.

A Cabinet Cohneil was held this morning at the
official residence of the Fiat Lord of the Treas ury
D9Tflag-Italt.