AGRICULTURE AND STOCK-RAISING. Estimated upon the basis of the number of people employed, agriculture is, relative to other industries in England, less than half as important as in any of the other great nations. The country now is far from producing the amount of food it requires. This fact is generally viewed with alarm when the possible exigencies of war are considered, and makes the question of food pro vision of preeminent importance. Political sig nificance attaches to the situation in that it is claimed that with Government protection, as in the Continental States (i.e. a system of import duties or of bounties), the agriculturists would reclaim soil now unprofitable, and greatly in crease the degree of independence for the islands. In regard to natural facilities for agriculture, Great Britain is somewhat less fortunate than the rival nations on the Continent. Not only is its actual area much less, but a smaller proportion of it is adaptable to cultivation, and even that is, on the whole, of only moderate natural fertility. The climatic conditions, tem perature, and rainfall are, however, generally favorable, though the summers are too cool for the growing of corn. It is only since the great increase in population beginning in the latter part of the eighteenth century, that the agri culture of Great Britain has failed to meet the food requirements of the people. It was formerly an exporter of food products and in its earlier history agriculture was almost its only indus try. In harmony with the economic ideas then current, the Government protected the industry with almost prohibitive import duties. The re peal of the corn laws in 1846 opened the markets to the competition of the world, and British agricultural interests, though prosperous for a time, are now helping to pay the price of national prosperity.
The bringing under cultivation of the fertile virgin soils of other countries, and the con stantly cheapening rates of transportation, have subjected Great Britain to an increasingly severe competition, and, as in the New England States, have forced a material modification in its agricul tural methods. This is most marked in the de crease during the last half-century in the pro duction of grain, particularly wheat, and the in crease in market gardening and the pastoral industries, notably dairying. There has been a revival in the production of wheat since 1895, in which year the acreage reached the minimum of 1,417,000 acres. Coincident with this change have been the decrease in the arable and the in crease in the pasture land. The American will be impressed by the striking disproportion between the staple crops in Great Britain as compared with those of his own country; for the raising of barley, oats, and root crops is necessary to take the place which corn fills in the United States. The extensive brewing interests create a demand for hops, which are grown on a large scale in Kent and Sussex, but the competition of the American product has robbed the English producer of his profits. The large population creates a demand for fruit and garden products, the production of which is consequently of great and increasing importance, particularly in the southeast, the Severn Valley, and generally in the vicinity of the large cities. The distribution of crops varies in the different sections, being determined largely by physical conditions. The Highlands of North and South Scotland, of Western England, and of a large portion of Wales, are unavailable for tillage; in fact, a considerable portion of these hilly regions is scarcely available for grazing purposes. Again, there are extensive lowlands
and swampy regions as in the Fens of Lincoln shire, which, even with extensive drainage, have not been entirely brought under cultivation. The proportion of the total area under crops and grass for England, Wales, and Scotland is seen in the following table: the true significance of British agriculture. In that respect it scarcely exceeds some of our American States, as, for instance, Illinois or Iowa. Its real importance appears when we consider the intensiveness of cultivation, the ad vanced scientific principles applied, and the re sultant large size of the product per acre. In these respects Great Britain is unsurpassed. By a scientific rotation of crops, a maximum culti vation of the soil, and a liberal use of natural and artificial fertilizers, the reluctant soil is made to produce phenomenally. Thus, while the area of cultivation has for half a century re It will be seen that, in a general way, England stands out in remarkable contrast from the other two sections of Great Britain. Two almost equal agricultural divisions are recognized in England, the one extending from Northumberland and Cumberland south to Dorset and west to Cornwall, •or the western half of England, being predomi nantly grazing, the other, or eastern half, being predominantly grain-raising. From the above tables it will be seen that wheat-growing is main ly confined to England, as are also rye, beans, and peas, and that oats and barley are striking ly prominent in the other two divisions. Po tatoes and turnips are more proportionately di vided between the three kingdoms. Incidentally it may be noted that Great Britain contrasts with Ireland mainly in the production of wheat, oats, and potatoes. Ireland is prominent in the pro duction of the last two crops, but raises scarcely any wheat. (See IRELAND.) Grazing is rela tively of much greater consequence in Great Brit ain than in the United States, or in other Euro pean countries (omitting Ireland). However, a statement of the acreage alone does not indicate mained stationary or decreased, the product has continuously increased. The following table indi cates the product per acre in bushels for the leading crops as compared with the United States, France, and Russia: The quality of the domestic animals must also be considered. Great Britain has originated many of the finest breeds of stock known. (See ENGLAND and SCOTLAND.) The purity of the breeds is zealously guarded, and the grade of stock averages much higher than in the United States. It is noteworthy, too, that Great Britain has more than half the total number of sheep in the whole of the United States. The following table shows the relative importance of the differ ent domestic animals in the three kingdoms: The agricultural products of the Island of Great Britain represent about one-third the an nual value of those of the United States. Un official estimates for the whole of the United Kingdom show that it produces only one-fourth of the wheat it consumes, eight-thirteenths of the meal it uses, three-fifths of its barley, four-fifths of its oats, one-half its beans and peas, and less than one-half of the dairy products it needs. The home production of potatoes almost satisfies the amount consumed. it should be remembered that a great deal of the stuff fed to stock is also im ported.