, 1860-02-10

He who limits his views Of agriculture to
production only, can have but an imperfect
idea of the subject. He has looked at it in
but one Of its aspects. To comprehend it
fully, he must embrace much wider field
Of inquiry, and understand not merely how
the eaI th can be made to yield its richest re
turns, but also how those returns can be made
most available for his comfort and happiness.
OF what value Is production, without con-
SUMPTION OF what use are abundant crops,
unless some fair equivalent can be obtained
for the surplus over the wants of the pro-
ducer2
A correct view Of tho agriculture Of a
country, therefore, must embrace the con.
sideratiOn, not only Of the modes by which
the largest crops can be raised, utalso Of the
means by which they can be best disposed of;
or, in other words, how the best markets can
be provided, and the best prices maintIined.
The function Of agriculture is TO produce
--of manufactures to convert-and Of com.
-merce to exchange. Aad as It Is obvious
that large portion Of the productions Of
the soil are comparatively Of little value
until they have been converted, by the pro-
cesses Of manufacture, into new forms, and
the surplus has been exchanged for such
commodities as the producer may need, it
follows, as necessary consequence, that
there must be an intimate relation between
agriculture, manufactures, and commerce.
Il will readily DO conceded thai, If all the
labor Of the world was directed to the pro-
duction Of food, the surplus above the wants
Of the producers would be Of little or no
value, because there would be no demand
for Il. As every one would raise enough
for his own use, he would find il necessary
to look 10 his neighbor for supply. The
surplus above the wants Of the farmer would,
therefore, be useless, and left 10 perish in
the fields in which Il was produced. To
give value 10 Il, q demand must be created
for Il. IN the absence Of such demand It
would soon cease to be produced. This de-
maud can be created only by multiplying
tho occupations Of the citizens, or, ID other
words, BY withdrawing a portion Of the
population from the production Of food, and
directing their labor 10 other pursuits.
When it Is effected, demand Is created,
proportioned 70 the number Of laborers, who
arc thus rendered consumers instead Of pro-
ducers, and the foundation Is laid for the
Interchange, between the different classes Of
laborers, Of the fruits Of their respective
branches of industry. This interchange
constitutes, in the first place, the barter
and, in the more advanced stages Of its pro.
gress, the commerce Of the world.
The prosperity Of the farming interest,
then, depends upon the preservation Of the
proper relation between productions and con
sumption. II an over-proporlion Of the
people are engaged in production, the supply
will exceed the demand the market for the
products Of the soil will be depressed; and
Tho interests Of agriculture must languish.
II on the other hand, occupation can be
given 70 large portion Of the population,
In the mechanic arts, in manufacturing, in
mining, IN navigation, and IN commerce, the
| demand for llIe fruits Of agriculture viii be
Incroissd, their prices exchanged, and the
hrmsrs must prosper.