If we take the inhabitants of rural sanitary districts, and of urban districts below 10,000 as the rural population, we shall find that between 1891 and 1901 the growth in the rural districts is 5.3 per cent.

as compared with 15.8 per cent.

for the centres of population.

Even if the urban standard be placed at a lower point, 5000, there is still an increase of 3.5 per cent.

in the rural population.