The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-12

g book farming with many has fallen into disre-
pute bishop Watson compared the geologst TO a
gnat mounted on an elephant, and laying down theo-
Iems as TO the whole internal structure Of the vast
mal from the phenomena OF the hide The comparison
Is unjust to the geoogist bu! NIGH. Justly be applied
the theorizer agriculture Practice and theory
should always go hand in hand nd-experspce confirming
the truth OF theory or exposing It's errors Before leav
ing this topic. would recommend 10 this society TO offer
special premium for series OF econducted expert
ments, with view OF testing the benefits of common salt
as manure. Salt is composed OF chlorine and soda.
ton OF all, or nearly all crops These constituent ele-
nenis do not abound in most SOILS and il is but reasona
BILE to suppose that they may have become deficient in
those soils which have been subjected TO long and
continued hllage. AS class of minerals, the chlodes
or muates are very soluble this salt being always solu
bic IN two and hall times its weight OF water Besides
lis properties as fertilizer, il will destroy many insects
hurtful TO vegetation aud the aydity with which I'M
bibes moisture may be beneficial to crops in this dry eli
male The berns Of the salt manufactures contain the
same elements, though in much less degree, besides
sulphale and carbonate OF me and other valuable fer
Izers and ITS application as a manure would, without
The science OF political economy, in its bearings on
agriculture, subject worthy OF the attention OF the
farmer and mechanic. The relations between capital and
labor supply and demand cost of production and market
or exchangeable value, intimately connected with the
success and prosperity OF those pursuits in which nearly
four-hiths OF our entire population are engaged. The
natural price Of any given product OF labor is determined
by the cost OF its production The market price is what
will sell for in the mas Of the world If the natural
price cost OF producing bushe of wheat be 65 cents
delivered IN MARKET and the market price be dollar
the difference profits will be 35 cents. The profits of
the farmer will therefore depend not only the market
price, but on the natural price Farmers and have
each sold their wheat this fer dollar per bushe
rom this statement we naturally conclude, without re-
Election, that their profits equal, especially if their
farms are valued alike upon the assessment roll Not
So Farmer AS wheat has actually cost him one hundred
cents per bushe in market; Farmer b, by keeping pace
with the improvements IN agriculture. and the application
OF skill and science has been enabled 10 produce his
wheat at cost in market OF only go cents per bushe
The profits Of nothing-of B, 40 cents per bushel
have stated this example for the purpose Of mpressng
upon every farmer present the cause OF this difference
for you control the natural price much than the
market price of your grain Without wishing to iujure
the feelings OF Farmer A. if he is present. let advise
him to study his sol-perhaps II is wanting IN some es-
senlia element that easily and cheapy be supplied
let him overcome OF his preudices, and instead of
season, with his ground well prepared Let him spend
no more time in specializing on the question whether
wheat will turn to chess it is Of but little practical i'm
portance
But few of farmers, if asked the question what it
costs to produce crop given field, could the
question with accuracy The farmer should sysiemaze
his business by opening account with each field OF HIS
farm The advantages OF clear accounts to the mechan,
and other occupations are manifest. What would be
thought OF the merchant who buys goods to cell II he
put them into market without knowing what they cost
him And yet the farmer who raises grain to sell is
content carry il 10 market without knowing what has
cost him to produce it. Agriculture is not an exception
regular accounts and system as advantageous IN this
pursuit any other and in this way only can the air
results OF experiments or the OF success or failure
IN general management. be ascertained = !.
The market price OF produce Is uctuating within
certain limits about ths natural price The market value
is controlled in great degree by the relation which the
supply has to the demand. A minute analysis OF the
modes in which the law OF supply and demand control the
price, causing It's variations would probably be uniner
esting and unnecessary "recurrence to fundamental
IDEAS might also render obnoxious to the charge
made against speakers, who entertain the notion
that idea, like cotton, is OF no value unless epun out
at great length The market value is not only restricted
by actual variations in the rates OF supply and demand
but by expectations of future variations An expectation
of extraordinary future supply will tend to lower pres
en prices expected dimnut,on OF supply OF course
will produce effects directly opposite, and raise the price
The results will follow expected increase de-
in demand-ihe former advancing and the latter
lowering the price The influence on present prices pro-
duced by expected changes in supply and demand is mod
hed and essened in proportion 10 the remoeness oil the
expectation the degree OF influence will also depend on
the OF the arcle whether II be perlshable or du
rabe More than one Of the causes to which have
ferred affecting prices may be operative al the same
time, producing effects complicated OF the effects that re
suit from action OF separate and they may so
neulraze the action OF each other not to affect the
price al all close this topic by saying Tor the beneh OF
the ladies, lest my remarks may be misconceiyed or mis-
applied by them, that the aw OF supply and demand does
not apply TO or control the market matrimonial
That there is always large surplus OF agricultural
productions IN our country over that required ior home
consumption shown by the large expectation Tor several
years past That this surplus will increase seems probable,
when take into consideration that the agricultural
capacities OF our country are constantly enargng oy an
improved system OF ulage the recalmng OF waste lands
and by bringing into cultivation the vast and fertile heds
of the new States Ia what market besides the domestic
market can our products be disposed OF al emunea,ng
prcesl becomes therefore all-lmportant question to
the producer. | propose TO submit few facts Tor your
conside eraon bearing this question, taken IRON the
best of information in my power From Spach-
mans Statistics OF the British Empire appears that the
quantity OF wheat and wheat flour imported into Great
Britain for home consumption, during ten years, com
mencing with 1897 and ending with 1885, averaged an
nually II, ,762.457 bushels.
From this statement safely base calculations as
to the steady demand which will result from ordinary
want In is47. a period of famine, the quantity OF all
kinds OF grain imported into Great Britain Sc 10000
bushels. What proportion OF this amount was wheat,
have been able TO ascertain but no safe estimate can
be predcaed upon the extraordinary demand OF that year
But from the above data coupled with the TACT thai be
restrictive system has been abandoned, IT Is submitted
that the ordinary demand of wheat required or annual
consumpton in Great Britain will not hereafter be less
than twenty millions OF bushels besides large quantity
of other grains Having asceftaned that demand 70
be supplied. and the probable extent OF tba demand e
next inquiry is, What country producing surplus io
expectation supply that demand at the lowest p,es
From table made up from consular returns Tor ls45,
found in Mc(regors Commercial Statistics vol y page
$780, il appears that the average cost OF wheal rom ,ne
continent delivered at Liverpool, is 3It per ousne
making the cost OF FIVE bushels for barrel OF m -
-four r., " -
From information contained in the report OF the
Commissioner OF Patents, IL IL estimated tDat
hye bushels OF wheat from western New
York, delivered in flour a, the same place, WIN m 90
cost " - i
Difference in favor OF the American producer ~ OBJ
Russia particularly southern Russia, furnishes wheat
lower than this average From the low price OF land ana
labor Odessa the Black sea- furnishes the cneapes,
wheat prpdu ed in Europe According to Mc(sfegor tne