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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

Statistics of Agriculture

page 134

Statistics of Agriculture.

Wages paid to Agricultural Labourers at different periods.—(Jeans.)
Country. Average Weekly Wages paid in the Years— Percentage Increase
1850. 1870. 1880. 1880 on 1850
s. d. s. d. s. d.
England (Cheshire) 9 7 15 0 17 6 66
France (general average) 9 0 12 6 14 0 55½
Germany (Hesse) 7 6 10 6 12 6 71
United States (Mass.)* 16 0 20 0 26 0 56½

Small Holdings.

Sir James Caird estimates that in England 390,000 out of 550,000 are holdings of 50 acres and under.

Indebtedness of the English Landed Gentry (by way of Mortgage and otherwise).

Estimated at over £250,000,000.—(Manchester Guardian.)

Table showing comparative importance of Agriculture in Capital, Revenue, Population, and Wages of the United Kingdom.—(Auldjo Jamieson.)
(In Millions) Agriculture. Shipping Merchandise Textile Manufactures. Hardware Manufactures Mines.
Capital £2,290 120 350
Revenue £263 588 213 155
Population 2.989 1.038 6.241
Wages £75 ... ... 47 32 16
Rateable Value of Metropolis (City Limits).
1801 £507,372
1856 1,203,466
1884 3,582,102

Losses of Farmers' Capital.

Those of the years 1875-1883=£150,000,000.

Annual Expenditure of Landlords of United Kingdom on their Land.

Estimated by Sir James Caird, in 1885, to have been for the last 30 years at the rate of £2,000,000 per annum, a large portion of which for mere renewal of buildings, roads, and drains. And as the total rental of lands is 67 millions, it appears that the total sum spent in 30 years on improvements is less than one year's rental.

Capital Value of Soil of United Kingdom.

Estimated by the same authority at £2,000,000,000. Hence it has been argued by Mr. Fyffe, that if ever since the Norman Conquest the Owners of Land had spent the 2 millions per annum on improvements, they would not yet have parted with a capital sum equal to what they now receive rent on.

Extraordinary Tithes.

In Kent these amount on hops to 2s. to 22s. per acre; fruit, 6s. to 10s.; market garden, 5s. to 12s. In Sussex, on hops, 7s. to 20s.; market garden, 3s. 6d. to 13s. 4d. In Surrey, on hops, 30s. In Hampshire, on hops, 20s.; and in Worcestershire and Herefordshire, on hops, 4s. to 7s.—(From Report of Select Committee on Extraordinary Tithes, 22nd July, 1881, which recommended commutation on a 7 years' basis where a Landowner applies, or that on his joint application with the Titheowner a fixed addition to the ordinary Tithe Charge might be made in lieu of extraordinary Tithes).

Summary Estimate of Irish Property, 1884-85.
(Thom.)
Tenement Valuation of Lands, Houses, &c. £13,874,443
Value of Crops:
Cereal £8,920,709 30,079,710
Potatoes 9,121,060
Turnips and Mangel 2,434,358
Hay 8,601,244
Flax 1,002,339
Value of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, and Pigs:
Horses 11,950,210 75,462,487
Cattle 52,582,852
Sheep 7,355,058
Pigs 3,574,367
Paid-up Capital of Joint Stock Banks 6,679,2301 9,335,690
Reserve Fund and Balances 2,656,460
Deposits in Joint Stock Banks 30,750,000 35,093,783
Deposits in Trustee Savings Banks 2,119,264
Deposits in Post Office Savings Banks 2,224,519
Investments in Government Stock, transferable at Bank of Ireland 30,640,160
Stock and Share Capital of Railway Companies paid up 25,703,097 36,156,702
Subscriptions from Companies to other Companies 402,701
Loans 1,847,067
Debenture Stock 8,203,837
Fisheries—Value Exports 820,093
Total £231,463,068
Net Annual Value of Property and Profits Assessed to the Income Tax in the year ended 6th April, 1884 £27,062,450

* With board.