Weekly national intelligencer., 1852-02-07
NATIONAL INrTELLIGENCER
AGRICULTURAL PRO GREss OF THE U. STATES.

TO the Editors Of the National Ltcuigencer:
The statistics Of Agriculture, 81 far as they have
been published from the Census Office, disclose.
many instructive Facts. To promote the farming il
terest, and bring some of the most prominent fea-
lures Of this branch Of nf ions Industry under the
eye Of legislators and 81 asesmen,I respectfully So
hcit small space IN yo paper to call attention to
the progress made by a nation Of farmers
Maize is the most important crop grown in the
United States 1t is one of the staples of every
State and Territory, not excepting Oregon, whose
climate is least frie ndly to this American cereal
The United States census of l84O makes the corn
crop of the year preceding 377, 1915 bushels
The census of lSe % shows that the crop of 1849
59l, ,586, ,O53 In crease 214 054, ,l78 bushels These
figures indicate gain of fftyseven per cent while
the increase OF population was not far from thirty
four per cent Corn being one of the most profit
able crops groN IN any where, have studied its In
crease and de- crease in the several States with much
interest; but due respect for the numerous claims
upon your columns forbids an extended notice of
even the m ost abundant and remunerating product
of our nat ional industry Allow me- however, to
say that New York produced in 1889 1892, ,286
bushels and in 1849 1884 1903 bushels. This,
for an o. State whose rural population increased but
little IN the last decade, is large and creditable
gain 1t is one of the many good fruits of her ex-
ceen agricultural societies, known all this
tend ID Republic as well as in Europe
+ ennsylvania has advanced her corn culture con-
sidf rably, although less than New York. Her crop
In 1889 was 14,240,022 bushels; in 1849 it was
II 707, ,702. Gain 5, ,467 $50 bushels. She will do
etter in the present decade
Georgia has sustained an agricultural journal for
the last nine years, and fourishing State Society
and others some five years. Her corn crop In 1889
was 20,905, l22 bushels in 1849 it 30 42S, $40
While Georgia has added to her annual harvest Of
maize 1888, ,418 bushels in ten years, South Caro-
lima has increased hers only $40, SOB bushels.
Ohio has seventy wellorganized agricultural So
cieties and an efficient Board of Agriculture. Her
corn crop in 1889 was 33 668, l44 bushels; in l849
it was 58, 8,922,783. Gain in ten years 25 1854 ,639
bushels.
These official statistics speak volumes in favor of
agricultural societies, and Legislative aid for their
support They are compossd of practical reading
farmers; and am happy that men of this stamp are
making an earnest effort to organize national agr
cultural society Should they, in its feeble infancy
ask for little assistance from Congress, it is to be
hoped that such small aid as State Legislatures
grant to State societies will not be withheld. To
say nothing of the large increase in her grain crops
New York, by giving some forty-fve societies less
than 81, 900 year, has increased the products OF
her dairies over fifty per cent The recent census
shows the immense product of eighty-taoo mil
lion pounds Of butter (82, ,043 1923 pounds.) Cheese
49,785,905 pounds In the production of these
ticles the gain from buttermilk and whey in pork
making amounts to millions of dollars
Unlike the farmers of New York and Ohio, those
of Virginia have failed to discover the advantage Of
united efforts for the promotion of agriculture In
1889 the corn crop of Virginia was 81, ,577 ,591
bushels; in l849 it only 80, ,538, ,582. Gain in
ten years but 960,991 bushels.
With view to correct what / cannot but regard
as an erroneous judgment in that noble Common
wealth, state the fact that from other State in
the Unien has opposition been or felt to
tional agricultural society. Intelligent business
combine their efforts and means to advance CONNER
cal, manufacturing, banking railroad and educa-
tional interests; and why should not farmers unite
their wisdom and labors to promote improvementsin in
tillage dhusbandryY The science Of combinations
is applicable to agriculture to any other business
pursuit whatever Isolated cultivators of the earth
may increase their knowledge and improve their farm
ing operations very little in the lifetime Of gene
ration, but their progress will be so far exceeded by
such skilfully combine their individual powers that
the former willappem to retrograde, not advance.
Agricultural Improvement has taken deep root in
nhe soil of Maryland, and her corn and wheat crops
have increased faster than her population in the last
decade, including the large gain in the city of Bal
tnore There is reason to believe that these staples
Will be doubled, without any increase Of titled land
by the year 1860, if the Legislature Of that State
foster the plan of its St1e Society 10 establish and
maintain an agricultural college and experimental
farm. DANIEi LEE