The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-11-16
WHEAT.

Solon Robinson publishes an article in tho
New York Tribune on the Lect Of wheat,
in which he assumes that the crop of 1855
was not IN average one, and that, consequent.
Iy, instead of having u large surplus for ex-
poration, we have but little more than
enough, for home consumption. We quote
u portion of his ar.icle
The present population is twenty-five mil.
lions, from which should be deducted the
slaves, us they do not consume much wheat:
TINS leaves ut least twenty-one millions of
consumers of wheaton bread. Allowing half
a pound of flour per head per day, the annual
| individual consumption would be eoual to
four aud half bushels of wheat, ara thi,
would require ninety-four millions of busbel,
Tor home consumption. The census estimates
the number OF acres sown in 1850 at eleven
millions. AT the same estimate the number
Tor 1885 would be twelve millions, and as two
bushels per acre is the usual quantity sown.
1t would require twcnty-four millions for
seed. If, therefore, the price of wheat was
down TO its lowest point, there would not be
enough raised by the above estimate to meet
the demand by about eight millions of bushels.
Since 1850, however, there have been dis.
turbing causes that did not exist previously.
Wheat has been in great demand for three
successive years, and has borne good prices
during all the past five years. This has
stimulated its cultivation, and probably there
were more acres in wheat in 1856 than ever
before. 1t may be safe to admit that in nearly
all the States where there was n loss before.
there has now been IN equal gain. This
would give about eight millions of bushels
from that source. The other ten millions
which we admit to be gained in the natural
course OF events, must have come mainly
from the new States. For, the older States
have nearly all their wheat lands under cult.
walton, and cannot materially surpass the Weld
OF 1850, unless there should be an uncommon
season IN Which larger quantities than usual
are grown TO the acre.
Thus iar, sc have assumed that there was
Il i"ll crop IN the year 1855. But we will
now proceed to show that there was not even
an average crop 10 the casual observer, tho
cropo W inter wheat gave, during the Spring,
"Ii TIE tokens OF beng remarkably heavy
one. lie oOservant farmer, however, when
ne examined his llelds, could discover that his
wheat was mort than commonly thin, and
mat The plant did not tiIer as well us usual.
liils was owing to the dry weather last Fail,
""'I. Pic'ch'cu gouu zeal OF the seed from
terminating, and enabled the fly to destroy
more; and also to the severity OF the Winter,
which kiIIei more or less in the best soils-
The only hope for u good crop lay in having
u cool, moist season to enable the heads TO
hll well. Beside, the ravages of The mdce in
New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and the
Joint-worm in Virginia, during the past two
years, so discouraged the farmers in many
parts OF those States, that less land was laid
down to Winter wheat than usual, though the,
dellc'emcty vas more than supplied by Spru
sown wheat. Finally, when the time q
for harvest, there WAS Il fair promise p