256,444
1877 (the year before the record acreage planted) 250,039
1879 262,765
1903 113,998
1904 313,667
1905 108,953
1906 232,619
1907 202,324

In recent years they have been a loss to the grower; as the average
crop is a little under 9 cwt. per acre, and the total cost of growing
and marketing from L35 to L45 an acre, it is obvious that prices of
about L3 per cwt., which have ruled lately, are unremunerative.

However disastrous to the farmer and landowner, the increased
quantities and low prices of food thus obtained have been of
inestimable benefit to the crowded population of England. In 1851 the
whole corn supply, both English and foreign, afforded 317 lb. per
annum per head of the population of 27 millions. In 1889 the total
supply gave 400 lb. per head to a population of 37-1/2 millions at a
greatly reduced cost.[728] The supply of animal food presents similar
contrasts; in 1851 each person obtained 90 lb., in 1889 115 lb. The
average value of the imports of food per head in the period 1859-65
was about 25s.; in the period 1901-7, 65s.[729] The products which
have stood best against foreign competition are fresh milk, hay and
straw, the softer kinds of fruit that will not bear carriage well, and
stock of the finest quality. These islands still maintain their great
reputation for the excellent quality of their live stock, and exports,
chiefly of pedigree animals, touched their highest figure in 1906:

Average per
No. Total Value. head.
L L

Cattle 5,616 327,335 58
Sheep 12,716 204,061 16
Pigs 2,221 20,292 9

1877.[730]

Acreage under crops and
grass in England 24,312,033

_Corn crops._
Wheat 2,987,129
Barley or bere 2,000,531
Oats 1,489,999
Rye 48,604
Beans 470,153
Peas 306,356