The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-04-25
Agsie"It"g'I3 department.
W. S. SHIELDS. EDITOR.
Agriculture of Great Britain.


Mr.. Giffeu has compiled some in
teresting facts touching English agri.
culture. from which the Globe CLEANS
the following:
It appears that the cultivated soil
of Great Britain is yearly augmen-
ting, and that the character Of the
agriculture is improving. Fully
one-half OF the surface of the coun-
try is under some kind Of culture
the remainder being heath and noun
tain, pasture lands or wood and plan
tations. In 1876 there were under
cultivation in Great Britain 40,393,-
070 acres, being $4,000 acres in ex-
tess Of 1875, while between the years
1869 and 1876 the additional land
brought under cultivation reached a
total of 1928, 900 acres. Of that
increase $4,000 acres were in Eng
land, 1000 acres in Wales and
200. 900 in Scotland. In 1869 the
arabic land in Great Britain was re-
turned at 1868, 900 acres, and the
pasture land at 12,736.000. Last
year the arabic land was returned at
1923 900 acres, and the pasture
land at 1916, 900 acres; an increase
in the one case of 425, 900 acres, and
in the other of $50, 900 acres.
Wheat-growing is steadily and
permanently declining. The acreage
under wheat last year was IL per
cent. less than it was in 1875, and
p per cent. less than it was in 1869.
The acreage under barley keeps
about the same thing. The growth
of oats is on the increase. In 1876
there were 2,789,53 acres under
this crop. Beans and peas are rather
on the decrease. So are potatoes,
from q general fear that disease was
likely to return. Turnips continue
steadily on the increase, and are
now indispensable. The area under
crop now amounts to 2,145, 573
acres.
The most noticeable feature. how
ever, is the largely increased acreage
under artificial grasses. Last year
showed the largest area under this
crop ever known, viz, 4,540,000
acres. The average yield Of wheat
per acre in Britain is % bushels,
and this is always, though slowly, on
the increase though the improve
ments in husbandry. The average
in New Zealand is 81 bushels per
acre in Autralia it is 16 in Russia,
only So; Hungary, SO; France,
1874; Egypt, 1874; Norway. 221.
and Holland. the highest in Europe,
28.4. The United States is given at
an average of 1913 bushels per acre,
while Canada is not reckoned of SO
much Importance as to be mentioned
at all in this connection.
The number Of cattle in 1876 was
two and a half per cent. less than
in 1875, and four and half per cent. |
less than in 1874. This decrease is !
most noticeable in young cattle.
which shows that the high prices
have tempted farmers to sell off a
disProp0rtionate amount of young
stock.
The decrease in sheep is still more
Since 1874 there has
been a decrease of two millions. The
actual number of sheep in Great
Britain in 1876 was 28,172,951, as
against 9,157.428 in 1875, and 3d.
}l3, 941 in 1874.
In Ireland the decrease has been
i've and half per cent. in one year.
This, Of course, i'll ordinary times
would merely have intimated that
meat, always dear, would
nave been somewhat dearer.
The introduction of live stock and
lead meat from America is, however,
likely to coGnteract this upward ten
lencv, while of course it gives our
Canadian exporters a better chance
IF realizing high prices for their ven
lures, while it as assuredly points to
butchers meat becoming permanent
lpon the supply for the British mar
let. The likelihood of any great
owering of the price in Britain, how
ever, is not very great, let Americans
10 their best; for the English are
,very year becoming more than ever
l A6SA-SaIAuS hdIAOn- HIS may D6
seen from the statement Of Stats
.ician of the name of Neild, who
las given great attention to the sub
ect. Mr.. Neild says that the aver
Ige consumption in Britain of butch
.rs' meat is ia pounds for every
nan, woman and child in the country.
n 1875 the total consumption was
%, 697,783 hundred weight. This
5 an immense amount; SO great
hat the meat consumers Britain
would save lbs 15,725,632 sterling
y the reduction in the price OF a
Jenny per pound.