The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-03-17
From the American Agriculturist.
The prospects Of the Farmers
of the United States.


Of the present price Of products, reasona-
blv prosperous condition for the agricul-
turists OF the United States for some years
to come. The crops throughout con-
siderable portion of Europe have been
seriously diminished during the past sea-
son, and to such an extent as to have
created large demand for various arti-
cIes of produce from our own country.
Owing to a bad season, the wheat and 9TH
er grain crops, not only of England, Scot
land, and Ireland, but also on the conti-
nent, have been somewhat deficient;
while the potatoe rot has cut short this
main article of TODD from large masses of
the population. The North of Europe,
from which large supplies of grain are
annually draws, has partakon to no incon-
siderable extent in deficiency Of crop,
while the region of the Black Sea, which
annually exports largely, has at least not
augmented its production. The millions
are to be fed abroad, and to no other
country can they look for a full supply of
food but to our own. Added to the ,unu-
sual deficiency of the Eastern hemisphere
rapidly growing demand has sprung up
in Europe of late years for different items
of American production, such as salted
beef and pork, lard, oil, tallow, hides,
butter, cheese, wool, &C., which has re-
lieved our home market of all the surplus
produce at remunerating prices. This
demand is constantly augmenting, and
active, prosperous condition of foreign
manufactures has rendered their continu-
al importation a matter of absolute cer-
tainty.
The operation of our tariff has, on the
other hand diverted no inconsiderable por
ton of our former agricultural classes
into manufacturers, who have thus shifted
sides & become consumers instead of pro-
ducers. So long as this policy shall be
persisted in, a healthy division of the in
dustrial classes of our country will be
maintained, and the ordinary products Of
our farmers will continue TO command
fair prices; while the increasing demand
for various articles for their use, hitherto
but little cultivated among us, will gradu-
ally induce their production to large ex-
tent, and at profitable prices. Among
these are silk, hemp, fax, indigo, &c.
There is in addition, every probability
of some relaxation in the very stringent
policy of Great Britain, in regard to the
admission of some of our agricultural
staples, such as wheat, flour, and pota-
toes, and especially in the most free adj
mission Of maize, or Indian corn. Should
this anticipation be realized, we may
confidently rely on large and perma-
nent demand for these staples at such pri-
ces as will afford a most satisfactory re-
turn to the producer. The exhaustion of
the ordinary supply in Europe, from the
present deficiency, cannot be wholly OBJ
waited by another seasons full crop
The magazines of grain abroad, which
are providentially filled through successive
years Of excess of production, will have
been nearly or quite exhausted before
! the next harvest, and the minimum of
price then will not have been reached, Till
several good crops have been secured
Add to this, population in Europe is rap
idly multiplying under the iavoring IN
fluences of universal peace. and it has in
many sections already reached that point
when agriculture, in the present state of
its science and practice, is barely suffi-
cient to enable production to meet the
demands of the citizens now extensively
engaged in manufactures, commerce, and
the various arts.
To the inhabitants Of the West and
Southwestern States Of the Union, an adj
ditional cause of remuneration, will be
found in the increasing facilities and di-
minished rates for conveying their pro-
ducts to market. New and spacious ave-
nues are opening in various directions;
by which their produce will find a direct
and economical transmission to the large
eastern markets. Among these are the
Wabash canal, already navigable some
200 miles, but soon to be completed from
the permanently navigable waters of that
river to Lake Erie, some 800 miles; the
Miami canal, connecting Cincinnati and
Lake Erie, which, with the former, are
direct highways for western Ohio, and
nearly all of Indiana, Kentucky, and
Tennessee, aud part of Arkansas and
Alabama; the Illinois canal, to be finished
within the present. year, and capable of
using similar facilities to Illinois, Iowa,
and Missouri.
Railroads, too, are starting into life IN
different directions in the west, and open
ing their iron thoroughfares for the accom-
odation of our western farmers, who thus
have facilities for the trasmission Of va
rious perishable articles TO distant mark
cts, where they can arrive uninjured, and
find profitable sale, which the hitherto
tardy means of conveyance rendered I'M
} possible.
Under all the circumstances OF the
prospect before us, we may conhdently