[861] Compare, however, the verdict of Laing, cited above, p. 325.
[862] An increase of some seven millions since 1900.
[863] Chief crops rye, oats, potatoes.
[864] The clear exports are chiefly margarine, butter, cheese, sugar, leather, paper, manufactured woollen and cotton cloths, flax, vegetables, potato-flour, oxen, and sheep. In 1891 Great Britain imported from the Netherlands £3,093,595 worth of margarine and £770,460 worth of butter; in 1909, £2,782,636 worth and £843,318 worth respectively; while sugar stood at £2,043,724. Oil seed rose from £345,210 in 1909 to £721,266 in 1910; and condensed milk in the latter year stood at £795,937.
[865] Increases of 5,000 men and 1,300 boats since 1900.
[866] An increase of 143 since 1900.
[867] An increase of 2,206 (over 100 per cent.) since 1891.
[868] This source of wealth, as we have seen, was much curtailed in the eighteenth century by British competition. Laing (Notes, pp. 7, 8) shows how small it had become at his time, but is quite mistaken in assuming that it had never been great.
[869] About 60 per cent. of the revenue is from Government produce and monopolies.
[870] The communes make provision only where charity does not; there is no poor-rate.