Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-16
agricultural.
Facts and Statistics o
American Agriculture.

SSASA@SoA &A64AS0AsoAS'
In a paper by Mr.. John Jay,
lately read by him before the Geo.
graphical and Statistical Society Of
New York, we are furnished with
some most interesting statistics of
our Nations agriculture. We
make the following extracts from
his published essay:
The census taken for 1850
shows Indian corn, our native
grain, to be the great staple OF the
country, yielding at that time six
hundred millions of bushels, val
ued at three hundred millions of
dollars; more than the combined
value of the three next staples,
wheat, cotton and hay. This
crop is grown from our northern,
to our southern limit, and affords
u better test than any other of the
advance Of American tillage. In
no statc has it retrograded. Its
increase from 1910 to 1850 was
fifty-six per cent, while the in
crease Of population was but
thirty.five per cent. The crop
for 1855 was estimated at eight
hundred millions of bushels
nearly double the crop of 1910.
As a distinguished American ag-
culturist has remarked, it may be
said of our Indian corn, as has
been said Of the turnip cro poi
England, that its failure for three
successive years would nearly
bankrupt the nation.
AS food for men and animals, il
il alike important. To it we owe
much Of our beef, the greater part
of our pork, and a comparatively
small quantity is consumed in
the manufacture OF malt and spir-
itious liquors. American corn
meal l. generally used in the West
Indies, and it is being gradually
introduccdin Europe. The Prus-
sian Government has instituted
experimental inquiries as to its
value and mode OF preparation.
The wheat crop from 1910 to
1850 increased only fifteen pr
cent. In New England, the cul-
tivation during that time declined
fifty per cent. 1t languishes in
New York, is nearly stationary in
tho Middle States, but is increa-
sing largely in the Northwestern
States. Chicago, which about
twenty years ago imported flour
and meal for her own consump-
ton, is now the greatest primary
grain market in the world--rival-
ing Odessa and Galatz, Dantzic
and st. Petersburg, and her
brands of -four are recognized
throughout Europe.
In New York, the wheat crop
from 1910 to 1850 declined
twenty-five per cent, while the
corn crop increased nearly one
hundred per cent.
OF our exports Of breadstuffs,
wheat is the largest item. In
1850 the proportion was $4,000
600 worth Of wheat TO only 81,
100000 Of Indian corn.
Our exports Of brcadstuifs of
late years have singularly varied.
In l5f7, owing to the Irish fam
inc, they rose TO S6s,000,000.
They fell in 1888 TO s37,000,000,
and in 1852 to s25,000,000, ri
sing again in 1854 to $50, 100000;
sinking the next year TO $4,000,
600, and again rising in 1867 to
$77,000,000.
Tho averaged export price OF
flour, as ascertained by the Soc
rotary Of tho Treasury for those
years, does not explain these fluc.
tuations. The price In 1862 was
$i.24 T; In 1853, five dollars aud
sixty cents ; 1851, seven dollars
and seventy cent in 1866. ten
dollars. They were probably
owing, in part, 10 fluctuations IN
the home supply, as we'll us in the
foreign demand, influenced some.
what by tho European and Eas.
tern wars. II Is most desirerble
that the causes Of such fluctua-
tons should be ascertained, as
they tend 10 excite doubts in re-
gard 10 the certainty of agricul.
tural profits and the element OF
uncertainty naturally discourages
and deters prudent men.
.