Mr. Braithwaite Poole, in his “Statistics of British Commerce,” 1852, states—­“The annual average production of all sorts of corn in the United Kingdom has been estimated by competent parties at rather more than 60,000,000 quarters, and L80,000,000 in value; but in the absence of general official returns, we cannot vouch for its accuracy, although, from various comparisons, there are reasonable grounds for assuming this calculation to be as nearly correct as possible.  Some persons in the corn trade imagine the aggregate production to approach almost 80,000,000 quarters; but I cannot find any data extant to warrant such an extended assumption.”

The estimated produce of wheat, in quarters, and acreage, he states as follows:—­

Quarters.          Acreage. 
England         15,200,000        3,800,000
Ireland          1,800,000          600,000
Scotland         1,225,000          350,000
----------        ---------
Total     15,225,000        4,750,000

The average price of wheat per quarter in the last thirteen years, in England and Wales, has been as follows:—­

s. d.
1840        66  4
1841        64  4
1842        57  3
1843        50  1
1844        51  3
1845        50 10
1846        54  8
1847        69  9
1848        50  6
1849        44  3
1850        40  4
1851        38  7
1852        41  0

The best wheat, as well as the greatest quantity, is raised in the midland counties.  From two and a half to three Winchester bushels per acre are required for seed, and the average produce varies from twenty-two to thirty-two bushels per acre.

THE CONTINENT.

The quantity of wheat raised in France in 1835 was 71,697,484 hectolitres, of which eleven millions was required for seed.  The average produce per hectare was stated at thirteen and a half hectolitres.

The total grain and pulse raised in that year was set down at 204,165,194 hectolitres.

Hectolitres. 
Maslin               12,281,020
Barley               18,184,316
Rye                  32,999,950
Buckwheat             5,175,933
Maize and Millet      6,951,179
Oats                 49,460,057
Peas and Beans        3,318,691

Oats, next to wheat is the largest crop grown in France, for the support of two million horses and three and a half million mules and asses.

According to the “Annuaire de l’Economie Politique de la Statistique,” there were 13,900,000 hectares (each about 21/2 acres) under cultivation with the cereals in France.

The primary article of consumption is wheat.  At the rate of three hectolitres (1 qr. 1/4 bush.) to each individual, every family would require thirteen to fourteen hectolitres, costing 210 to 280 francs (L8 15s. to L11 10s.) according as the price varies, between its present value fifteen francs, and its occasional cost twenty francs.  In the reign of Louis XVI, Arthur Young referred with horror to the