annual production of straw in 5-year periods is shown below 
together with the production in 1925. 
AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF STRAW IN ENGLAND 
AND WALES. 
Thousands of Tons. 
Period. 
1906-10 
1911-15 
1916-20 
1921-25. - 
1925 - 
Wheat 
Straw. 
Re 
Barley 
Straw. 
2,214 1,533 
2,170 1,245 
2,326 | 1,206 
10967. 1" 1.004 
1.650 975 
Oat 
Straw. 
2,448 
1,927 
2,248 
1,827 
1.735 
kf 
i 
Total. 
6,213 
5,342 
5,780 
4,798 
4.360 
The average annual production of straw of all kinds has 
decreased by no less than 23 per cent. over the period covered 
by this table, the decrease being due almost wholly to lighter 
yields per acre as the acreage under the three cereals taken 
together has declined by less than 3 per cent. 
Vetches or Tares—The total area under this crop in 1925 was 
88,498 acres, distributed throughout the country with fair 
regularity except in the north-western division and in Wales, 
where the area is negligible. Hampshire and Wiltshire are the 
counties with the largest acreage, each with about 8,000 acres, 
but several counties in the eastern half of the country are little 
less important. 
From estimates made by the Crop Reporters it appears that 
about 26 per cent. of the area of vetches in 1925 was harvested 
ripe, about 14 per cent. cut for hay, and the remaining 60 per 
cent. cut for green fodder or silage. There are appreciable 
differences between the different divisions in this respect, how- 
ever, as will be seen from the table on page 29. 
It is clearly in the arable counties that the crop is to a large 
extent harvested ripe, whereas in the pastoral counties the great 
bulk of the crop is fed green to cattle. The yield of vetches 
harvested ripe in 1925 was estimated at 12} cwt. of grain per 
acre, the north-eastern, south-eastern and east midland divisions 
averaging between 13 and 14 cwt., but the eastern division 
harvested less than 11 cwt. The average yield of vetches hay 
was about 29 cwt. per acre, yields being fairly uniform in the 
different divisiong but heaviest in the north. The area reported 
as harvested ripe was 23,000 acres with a production of 14,500 
tons of grain, while 12,000 acres were cut for hay, giving a yield 
of 17,700 tons. In addition, over 53,000 acres were cut for 
green fodder or silage,