If, however, we eliminate the "home" counties and other rural districts round the large centres of population, largely used for residential purposes, and turn to agricultural England, we shall find that it shows a positive decline in rural population.

In the period 1891-1901 no fewer than 18 English and Welsh counties show a decrease of rural inhabitants, taking the higher limit of urban population.

This has been going on with increasing rapidity during the last forty years.

Whereas, in 1861, 37.7 per cent.

of the population were living in the country, in 1901 the proportion has sunk to 23 per cent.
What these figures mean is that almost the whole of the natural increase in country population is being gradually sucked into city life.