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 Ibs. 
in 1908, the figure for 1913 being much the same as in 1908. 
In 1913, 214 per cent. of the total number of sheep above 
Ll 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 64 million 
Ibs. 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 two- 
thirds 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