The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-08-11
ENGLAND'S NEEDS.
HER GROWING DEPENDENCE FOR roop.
Boston Journal.

Boston Journal.
In spite of the low wages of the agricul
tural laborer in England, ranging as they
do from So to So per week, without board
that country is steadily becoming more
and more dependent on other lands for her
food supplies. In the course of the last
| twenty years, the import of articles for food
alone has increased from 5000 600 600 to
nearly $500 0GO 900 year. Nor is this
the result OF more generous system of
iiVlDg. The increase has been largely In
| the common articles of food. The impor-
| tatien of cheese, which takes the place of
meat with the 'aboriDg classes, has in
creased from one and half to five and
| third pounds per capita. The importation
OF wheat has risen from 7S 4 pounds to
~ 9 pounds per head. The advance of
the importation of potatoes was nearly
hve-fold, OF Indian corn four-fold and of
oats two aud a half fold. =
This remarkable increase in the impor.
tation of prime articles of food is not due
80 much to an Increase of population as to
the displace ment Of home products by those
OF other lande. The wheat acreage of
England fell off in 1876 ii per cent. from
taat of the previous year, and % per cent
from that of 1869. In the two years pre-.
vious to 1876 the stock of English cattle
decreased Al per cent. This falling off 10 |
the rapid withdrawal of English lands from |
agricultural purposes The commons |
which in other days afforded the animals
OF the poor pasturage have been inclosed,
small farms have been purchased by
wealthy proprietors, and by those who,
counted among the squires by holding
LANDS, while large areas Of tillage land
have been withdrawn from culture and
turned into parks. In her determination
to man ufacture for all the world England
has not paid sufficient attentio to the basis
|
of agriculture and the encouragement of
the home production of the articles of food
she has strained every nerve to establish
1er industrial and commercial supremacy |
70 the detIiment of that Independence ,
which an ample production of food can
Alone afford a people.
The situation must be one of deep anx
ETY., If not of solicitude, for the English
people. In 1877 her total imports were
1913 900 600, of which e 100, ,OOO, 900 was iu
ood supplies. Her exports were about
s252 600 600. In other words, after pur-
y no oasing her food, England had s92 .0OO,.
oo to buy f233, 900 900 of the other goods
he imported. or course, this large
'Alance against that country must be
made up by the interests on the securities
4 other nations and the earnings of cap
tai invested in chipping. It lie estimated
hat the large balance of trade in our favor
as resulted in England sending home to q,
3 during the past Swo Yeas $500, ,O0O, 600
{ our securities. This represents the loss "
an annual income to the people of that
onntry Of $50 0O0. 900. With the growing
ependence of England upon other coune 4
les for food supplies, in addition to the y
'ct that other countries are coutesting r.
1ccessfully with her for the privilege Of
'lling manufactured goods, it becomes an
lteresting question how long that country
IN sustain the great drain upon her re-
.rves which the large and growing excess a
her Simports over her exports indicate.