CANADIAN PRODUCE MARKET.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14554, 3 January 1913, Page 10

CANADIAN PRODUCE MARKET.

(TJIOU OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

- VICTORIA (8.C.), November 20, A bulletin just issued bythe'Proviiwial Department of Agriculture, giving market statistics for the last year, is of importance as showing the extent of the home market for agricultural products. ■ Ino total importations of dairy and poultry products into British Columbia for the year ' 1911 were as follow:—Butter, 954,908 dollars; milk (including condensed) and cream, 373,667 dollars; eggs,. 973.133 dollars,, poultry, 1,142,735 dollars; cheese, 654,708 dollars. Total, 4,099,14!) ' dollars.

Excluding cheese, of which practically none is made in British Columbia, there is a total of 3,.">00,0C0 dollars sent out of thr» province annually for articles which should be produced at home. Tho year's importations., of fresh meats, including bacon and ham, mutton and lamb, pork and lard, total 1,260.091 dollars, whilst beef cattle, f-heep and swine were imported to the value of 1,200,010 dollars/

In the past year there has been a noticeable increase in the consuming, capacity.of Prairie markets, due mainly to increased population, and also to tho fact that a Into and wet season there furnished an unusually favourable market for early vegetables. There has also been an increased demand for British Columbia apples from Australian houses.- and for all fruits and vegetables from Coast markets. The home markets, however, fall far short of being supplied.

Tho greatest increase in consumption of food products during the past year has been in bacon and ham, mutton and lamb, pork, eggs and poultry. The value of dairy produce (exclusive of milk) importations amounted to 1.609,614 dollars, and the value of dressed poultry and egg importations amounted to 2,115,868 dollars. •

The homo production of dairy proVluco (exclusive of milk) amounted in value to 955,'1<32 dollars, or 61 per cent. of tho market demand. The demand also for dressed poultry and cygs was 1,234,472 dollars in excess of. the home supply. A satisfactory feature of the year pas been are increase iii the supply of Home-produced milk, valued at 3.295.000 dollars, and epjxs. valued at 255,112 dollars. Eggs, however, show a still greater increase in importations from the United States- and Canadian provinces, the increase from the former being 312.8 ncr cent., and from the latter 230.7 nor cent, on the values for 1910. The rapid growth of city population has resulted in an increased demand for milk, which has affected the quantity of butter manufactured. The increased demand for mutton and .pork has not been met with a corresponding development in the raising of shoep and swine, the numbers ofthc former showing a lessened production during the year. As in the past year, tho heaviest importations in. Hvo stock have bet-n in horses, beef prattle and sheep, the United States imports of Jior.ses showing the very large increase of 300 per cent.