Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-09-01
kgrleRItucal Productions Of Ihe Unitea
States

The extended area of the Unite States,
covering asit does some twenty degrees OF
latitude, and about fifty-fiye degrees of lon
gitude, MI in one compact mass, renders II
The meet favored nation on the tace OF the
earth in the variety Of its agricultural pro-
duotions. There is nothing essential 20 the
existence Of man, and but5few Of the luxu-
ries which crafty his palate, VIII ch are MT
raised in the United States. But this is Lot
the only advantage which our people pos
sess in the productions OF food: inthe ar
ticle of bread stuff, the staff Of life, DEN
c:ency in the supply Of which Il pfoauc'ise
OF so much misery in many countries, So
wide in the extent of territory, comprehend
ing 40 MANY degrees o. latitude and longi-
tuds. which is planted, that a famine is an
event which is almost placed beyond the
boundsof possibility. If the crops fail in
one section, the surplus is so great in aneth.
er that the failure is scarcely felt. In
stance the article Of wheat, the principle
staple Of bread-stuffs. This grain is raised
in every Safe and Territory. So also with
rye, Indian corn and potatoes. Barley Is
raised in all the States but Louisiana and
Florida. All the Southern States with the
exception of Mary land, as we'll as one or
more of the Western States, produce rice
Every State except Delaware. makes sugar.
OF the articles necessary for the production
of7meat, such as hay, oats, &C., every State
produces more or less. These facts prove
tiat our nation need be dependent On no
other for the necessaries OF life, even In the
most unfayorable seasons. How much
more favored are we in this respect thanour
great commercial riyal--Great Britain
There the whole commercial system is liza
bic to be disarranged by year OF compara-
tive famine, or by the failure OF single
crop.
Ohio raises more wheat than any other
State; Tennessee raises the most rye and
buckwhsat; South Carolina the most rice;
and New York the most barley, potatoes
and hay. The production Of wheat has
been for many years extending on the West,
and contracting on the East. The wheat
lands OF New York, Pennsylvania and
Maryland are becoming in q measure es-
llaus cd, and their yield per acre is much
less in proportion than that OF the newly
cleared and prairie lands Of the West. The
Wsstern States, indeed, are now, par e1-
csllence, the wheat growing States Of the
Union, and it is to them that the future
millions must look for the principle means
of sustinence. Il will be centuries before
the United States will TEEN with popula.
,ion, which,lik that OF England will re.
quirs all which can be raised from the soil
10 support life, or before they will be forced
tosdepend upon any other natiensfcr the
staple articles offood. Indeed, il may 'fei
be doubted whether science will not. keeF
pace with the growth Of population and
teach our farmers the proper materials tc
restore the exhausted fertility Of the soil
thus rendering an acre as, productive as
double the quantity Of land as atspHesen'
cultivated. When We consider the almos,
countless millions Of human beings who viii
ultimately, at the present ratio Of progress
ion, find subsistence within the present linn.
its Of The United States, we relost in the
mazess speculation atsthe future destiny
of our country.