New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-09
THE FARMERS PROSPECTS.

THE FARMERS PROSPECTS.
There is an undeniable scarcity Of Food in
the country, as compared with the usual amount
lsfs over on the Let Of March. The Wheat crop
Of 1854 was fearfully devastated by the Weevil
Wheat Nudge, and other cOrmOrsnts, after having
suffered severely by the open aud capricous win
ter preceding. Making every allowance for the
full harvest in Wisconsin aud few other locali-
ties we think the general Wheat crop was less
than tbree-fourth of an average yield. Indian
Corn suffered still more severely from drOuth but
its growth is 90 generally difased that it
may be aafe to place the average yield
at three fourths of 3 full crop. Potatoes
were less afflicted by rot last season than in the
average of several preceding years, 1--WE are
aware that there are marked local exceptions to
this rule;) but the droutb was very hard upon
tbem and it is probably fair to estimate the yield
st the average of the six preceding years. Other
Roots-Turnips, Carrots, Beets, &c.-sere Sc.
riously shortened by the drouth-probably twenty
five per cent. at least. The Dat crop WAS also
short one, owing to the lateness and wetness Of
the sowing season, and the drouth and intense
heat of the summer. We think twenty five per
cent deduction from an average crop would here be
within the truth. OF Hay, there was rather
light average yield, but the shortnem Of Pasture
in the hot months and of Corn Fodder, Roots,
&c. in the fall, doubtless diminished the aggre-
gate of food for cattle very materially. OF Cot
ton, Sugar, Tobacco, Hops, &C., we believe fair
harvests were secured. Fruit was very short in
&. fall -hutr nst
other sections were more fortunate. On the
whole, We estimate the American Harvest of
1854 as falling below an average by at least one
eiehth-a loss which, expressed in money, must
have largely exceeded One Hundred Millions Of
Dollars.
This loss has not fallen exclusively on the
Farmers, though many Of them have felt it most
severely, while others have realized 10 enh 4nced
prices as much as they have lost by defcie mt hsr
yeats. Wisconsin has thus done better than in
ordinary sessons; Iowa no worse; California,
moreover, had very bOuntiful harvest; and We
have heard no complaints Of deficiency from any
of the Territories. But while there are extensive
regions, as well as many individuals, that have no
cause to complain, and while some portion of the
disaster has doubtless already been repaired by
inevitable economy and frugslity, it is perfectly
safe TO estimate the Country this moment One
Hundred Millions poorer than it would have been
had the last harvest been full average one.
A nation mainly Agricultural, thus crippled in
its resources ought to evin:e corresponding fru-
gality in its expenditures; yet our Imports in
lo54 exceeded those Of any former year-ex-
ceeded largely our Exports of aught but promises
TO pay. From the time that the danger of de-
fcient Harvest became imminent-ss it did be-
fore the middle Of August last-our orders for
foreign products should have been diminished at
least one-half; but they have not been. There
has been some falling of-not one fourth so much
az there should have been-but last weeks In
ports at this point were considerably heavier
than those Of the corresponding week Of 1854;
and the prospect now lie that, unless the bankers
and traders Of Western Europe positively cut of
our credits, our Imports excluding Spece) for
1855 will exceed Two Hundred Millions in cost.
For, while the power of this country to purchase
and consume has undoubtedly fallen of, it must
not be forgotten that our production of Metals,
Wares and Fabrics has also greatly fallen of
within the last twelve months. Our Wooden
Manufacture is parslyzed and on the brink of
ruin. Our Iron. making has for months been
prosecuted at loss, until many Iron masters
have been ruined and forced to suspend opera
tom. About the only Mining interest among US
that still evinces vitality is the Coal which is
protected from Foreign overthrow by the great
bulk of toe product in proportion to its value,
rendering the cost of Transporting Half Million
tuns from Europe fully equal to that Of mining
them in this country, so that Coal mining among
US in fact enjoys natural, inevitable protection
OF one hundred per cent. against any COMPETE
ton but that Of the Nova Scotia mines As the
Reciprocity Treaty admits the Coal Of the British
Provinces free of duty the impost still ostenslbly
levied Oh Foreign Coal becomes pure illuGon
and we think it would have been wise, though
Of little practical consequence, TO abolish Ii
altogether.
There will be = revival in some branches of
manufacture when the opening of Spring has re-
vived demand for their products but our de-
pressed branches in general cannot and will not
rally without change in the Tariff. II Wool is
admitted free, or substantially so, that will help
the branch most disastrOusly affected; il CORES
ponding changes are made in other items, good
will result although fools will be gulled by bold
assertions that these charges are made in the d.
rection, not of Protection but of Free trade.
When persons want to be cheated, love to be
cheated, insist upon being cheated they will,
Of course, have their wish Our impression