*The number of fowls in 1925 has been estimated on the basis of the changes in numbers as shown by the returns of 1924 and 1926. The average number of eggs produced per hen as obtained from the special returns in 1925 has been used to estimate the total production of eggs in 1924.

The figures show very clearly the great increase, amounting to over 50 per cent., in egg production on agricultural holdings in England and Wales as compared with before the war.

In order to estimate the total home production of eggs it is necessary to make an addition in respect of fowls kept on holdings, allotments, gardens, &c., which are not included above. As already explained there is no definite basis on which such an estimate can be made, but it is thought that an addition of onethird would be sufficient to indicate approximately the total home production in England and Wales, which on this basis would amount to between 1,900 and 2,000 millions.

Not only has the production of hen eggs been increased, but a large increase has taken place in the production of duck eggs. Many more ducks of laying strains are now being kept and the average number of eggs produced per duck has increased considerably.

The returns collected in 1908 showed the average number of eggs laid per adult duck (male and female) in Great Britain as 26, in 1913 the average for England and Wales was 33, and the average as shown by the latest returns, after allowing as in the case of fowls for the returns being from occupiers who give most attention to egg production, is 40. No estimate has been made of the relative proportions of male and female birds, but it is understood that where heavy breeds are kept there is usually a very large proportion of drakes. Consequently the number of eggs per duck would be appreciably greater than the figure of 40 given above.

*The number of ducks in 1925 has been estimated on the basis of the changes in numbers as shown by the returns of 1924 and 1926.

The increase in the production of duck eggs from appreciably less than 20 millions before the war to 43 millions to-day is very striking.

Production of Poultry for Food.-The returns received of the number of home-bred birds killed for food or sold alive did not, unfortunately, prove satisfactory, and it is not possible to quote them with any confidence. It is estimated, however, that from agricultural holdings the numbers killed for food in 1924-25 were approximately as follows: fowls, 15,000,000; ducks, 1,700,000; geese, 450,000; turkeys, 500,000.

Occupiers were also asked to give particulars of the number of day-old chicks sold, and the numbers actually returned as sold off agricultural holdings were 2 million fowl chicks and 55,000 ducklings. These figures are not complete, but they give some indication of the magnitude of this trade.

4. Wool production. The number of occupiers returning flocks of over 50 sheep in 1925 was approximately 75,000, and these were asked to give particulars of the number of sheep shorn in 1925, the total quantity of wool clipped, the total sum realised for the wool, and whether it was washed or unwashed; the breeds and classes of animals being distinguished in each case. The replies received related to 30 per cent. of the sheep in the country, and as the proportions were fairly similar in all counties they thus constituted a very representative sample.

The quantities of wool clipped in England and Wales in the years 1908, 1913 and 1925, based on the returns collected in those years together with annual estimates made by the Ministry for the years 1922, 1923 and 1924, are given in the table on the following page.

Of the 53 million lbs. of wool clipped in 1925, about 2 million lbs. consisted of lamb's wool.

In addition to the wool clipped a certain amount of wool is obtained from slaughtered sheep and lambs, and the production of skin wool in England and Wales, at an estimated average weight per head of 3 lbs., was approximately 15 million lbs. in the twelve months, June, 1924, to May, 1925.

The decrease in the wool clip as compared with 1908 and 1913 is of course the necessary consequence of the decline in the sheep flocks. The increase in recent years is the result of the recovery which has taken place in the number of sheep during those years. The proportion of washed wool in the total clip appears to be steadily declining; in 1908 about 75 per cent. of the clip was washed, in 1913 the proportion was 69 per cent., while by 1925 it had fallen to 58 per cent. The loss of weight of a fleece in washing varies considerably as between breed and breed and county and county, but, according to the returns received in 1925, is on the average about one-sixth of the weight of the unwashed fleece.

If the clip is expressed in terms of unwashed wool on this basis, the total output has fallen from 78 million lbs. in 1908 to 59 million lbs. in 1925, a decrease of nearly 25 per cent. as compared with a reduction of a little under 20 per cent. in the number of sheep.

The relatively sharper decrease in the wool clip is due in the main to the fact that the reduction in the number of sheep as compared with 1908 is in the lowland sheep which carry a heavier fleece on the average than the hill sheep. The returns, however, indicate that there has been a slight reduction in the average weight of the fleece in the case of most breeds as compared with pre-war years, the decrease being probably accounted for by the increased proportion of ewes and the smaller proportion of older wethers in the total of sheep of over one year and possibly in part to the tendency to a reduction in the size of animals of the larger breeds. The variation in the number of sheep washed before shearing in the different census years does not allow a

direct comparison of the average weight of fleeces to be made from the returns, but, on the basis that a fleece is on the average of one-sixth less weight washed than unwashed, the average weight of unwashed fleeces was 6.1 lbs. in 1925 against 6.4 lbs. in 1908, the figure for 1913 being much the same as in 1908.

In 1913, 21 per cent. of the total number of sheep above 1 year old were in Wales, but in 1925, owing to the number of sheep being considerably reduced in England and slightly increased in Wales, the latter country accounted for over 25 per cent. of the sheep clipped. The average weight of a fleece from the sheep kept in Wales is less than half the weight of an average fleece from English flocks. This in itself would account for a good part of the reduction in the average weight of a fleece over the whole of the sheep of the country.

The total quantity of wool clipped in Wales is about 6 million lbs. and in the two northern divisions of England 12 million lbs., these being the most mountainous parts of the country where the sheep population is densest. The production of wool in these districts is only about 37 per cent. of the total clip, although they have over 50 per cent. of the sheep.

The practice of washing sheep before shearing is very variable in different parts of the country; in Wales practically all the sheep are washed, but in the two northern divisions of England, only about 50 per cent. are washed. In Lincoln and Yorkshire (East Riding) washing is practically universal, in Norfolk, about half the fleeces are unwashed and in Suffolk and Essex the great bulk are unwashed. In Kent about three-fourths of the sheep are washed before shearing, but in West Sussex practically all are clipped unwashed. Farmers in Salop and Hereford wash nearly all their sheep, in Somerset, three-fourths are washed, but in Devon and Cornwall washing is very rare.

The total amount realised in the sale of the wool clip in 1925 was estimated at £3,000,000, of which Wales accounted for only £390,000, and the two northern divisions of England, £690,000. Farmers in the north-eastern division of England realised £420,000, in the south-eastern division £340,000, in the midlands £590,000 and in the south-western division, £470,000.

5. Bees and honey. In the Census of Production of 1908 an attempt was made to obtain returns of the production of honey, but so few returns were received that they were of no practical use. A further attempt has, however, been made this year to obtain some information on this subject. Unfortunately, it was found impossible to secure complete lists of bee-keepers in the country and consequently many bee-keepers did not receive the forms, while of those to whom forms were sent only about twothirds furnished replies. It is estimated that the information supplied to the Ministry represents approximately one-half of the honey production of England and Wales. On this basis the number of bee-keepers in 1925 amounted to about 20,000, with

a total of about 70,000 stocks of bees. The returns received showed that the average yield in 1925 was about 361 lbs. per stock from which honey was taken during the year, giving an estimated total production of honey of 2,200,000 lbs.

The year 1925 was a good year for honey production. From the report of the Cornwall Bee Keepers' Association it appears that the average yield of honey in 1925 in that county was over 38 lbs. per stock, as compared with about 18 lbs. in 1924. The average wholesale price of extracted honey in 1925 was about £6 10s. per cwt., giving a total value of about £130,000 for the honey production of the country. Retail prices averaged about 28. per lb., however, and a considerable proportion of the honey produced is sold direct by producers to consumers, while sections of comb honey averaged 2s. 6d. each retail and 20s. per dozen wholesale. The aggregate value of the honey produced in 1925 may, therefore, be put at something in excess of £130,000, and probably £180,000 may be a fairer estimate.