XIII. & XIV.—Consumption of Food, Drink, and Tobacco.

The first of these Charts shows the consumption per head of the population of certain dutiable articles. The number of pounds of Tea, Currants and Raisins, Coffee, Cocoa, Tobacco, and Sugar (raw and refined) consumed per head is shown for the period 1854-1905, and the consumption of British Beer in gallons for 1881-1905.

The rapid increase in the amount of Tea and Sugar consumed per head of population will be evident from this chart. The decline in the consumption of Coffee, and the increased use of Cocoa, especially of recent years, are also illustrated.

The amount of Sugar consumed has been taken to be the total quantity imported, less exports and re-exports. No allowance has been made for Sugar exported in jams, confectionery, etc.

The second Chart shows the total net consumption of Wheat (including flour) in the United Kingdom for the period 1854-1905, and also the amounts of British and Imported Wheat respectively.

page break

The great change which has taken place during the last fifty years in the sources of the Wheat supply of the United Kingdom is brought out in this Chart, the home supply having declined very considerably, while at the same time the supply from foreign countries and the Colonies has rapidly increased.

In calculating the amount available for consumption in each year, one-third of the British harvest for that year, plus two-thirds of the harvest in the preceding year, plus imports of foreign Wheat in the year itself has been taken, less the allowances for export referred to below. It has been assumed that the amount actually consumed in each year is the mean of the amount available for consumption in the year itself, the preceding year and the succeeding year.

Wheat flour is expressed throughout in terms of Wheat on the assumption that 72 of flour = 100 of Wheat. Exported bread and biscuit is allowed for on the assumption that 75 per cent, is flour. The allowance for seed in the case of British Wheat is 2¼ bushels per acre from 1853 to 1886, and 2 bushels per acre for subsequent years.