The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1859-12-08
FOB THE EAR ER.
& Correct Siow.

He who limits his views of agriculture
to production only, can have bnt an i'm
perfect idea of the subject. He has look
ed at it in but one of its aspects. To com
prehend it fully, he must embrace Il much
wider field OF inquiry, and understand not
merely how the earth can be made to
yield Its richest returns to the husband
man, but also how those returns can be
made most available for his comfort ard
happiness.
OF what value is production, without
consumption Ofwhat use are abundant
crops, unless some fair equivalent can be
obtained for the surplus over the wants
Of the producer?
a correct view of the agriculture of q
country, therefore, must embrace the con-
sideration, noo only Of the modes by which
the largest crops can be raised, but also Of
the means by which they can be best dis
posed of; or, in other words, how the
best markets can be provided, and the
best prices maintained.
The function OF agriculture is to pro-
duce-of manufactures to convert-and of
commerce to exchange. and rs il is OBJ
vious that large portion of the proiuc-
tlons OF thc soil are comparatively of little
value until they have been converted, by
the processes of manufacture, into new
forms, and the surplus has been exchang-
ed for such Commodities as the producer
may need, it follows, Us Il necessary conse-
quence, that there must be an Intimate
relation between agriculture, manufactures,
and commerce.
It will readily be conceded that, if al
the labor Of the world was directed to the
production OF food, the surplus above the
wants OF the producers would be Of little
or no value, because there would be no
demand for 1t. As every one would raise
enough for his own use, he would not find
1t necessary to look to his neighbor for "a
supply. The surplus above the wants of
the farmer would, thel eiore, be useless,
and left to perish in the fields in which it
was produced To give value TO it, de-
mand must be created for it. In the alb
sence Of such demand it would soon
cease to be produced. This demand can
be created only by multiplying the o:cu-
PatiOns of the citizens, or, in other words,
BY Withdrawing portion Of the po2ula-
ton from the production Of food, and di-
recting their labor TO other pursuits
When this is effected. Il demand is created.
proportional TO the number of laborers.
who are thus rendered consumers instead
OF producers, and the foundation is laid
for the Interchange, between the different
classes OF laborcrs, Of the fruits of their
respective branches of industry. This in
terchange constitutes, in the first place,
the barter-and, in the more advanced
stages Of its progress, the commerce Of the
world.
The prosperity Of the flrming interest.
then, depends upon the preservation of
the proper relation between production
and consumption. If an over proportion
Of the people are engaged in production,
the supply will exceed the demand; the
mlrlet for the products Of the soil will
be depressed ; and the interests Of faericul-
ture must lauguish. If, on the other
hand, occupation can be given to large
portion OF the population, in the mechanic
arts, IN manufacturing, in mining, in nav
igation, and in commerce, the demand for
the fruits Of agriculture Will be increased,
their prices enhanced, and the farmers
must prosper.