THE FALL IN CULTIVATED ACREAGE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR, —The figures quoted by the writer of " Spectabilia " on the fall in the number of acres under cultivation of cereals in -England and Wales are not accurate. He says the fall between 1918 and 1925 was from 12,309,000 to 10,680,000. Agricultural Statistics, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, states that the fall was from 7;481,269 to 5,182,075, which is greater both absolutely and proportionately than the fall stated by Your contributor. The fall in the wheat acreage for the same period he states accurately as from 2,557,000 to 1,499,000.
But in considering both sets of figures it needs to be borne in mind that the. acreage of 1918, was the result of the culmina- tion of a great national effort which included the inducement of the price of .95s. per quarter for wheat„, and, the compulsion, to plough up exercised by the County Agricultural Committees. This is very evident from the fact that between 1914 and 191,8 the total cereal cultivation increased by L720,000, and the wheat acreage by 750,000, the remaining increase , being mainly in oats. The present state of agriculture is not prosperous, but it is not helpful to quote figures other than in their accurate perspective.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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