Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-02-12
che Obio 6tatesmam.
TIE RMS.
Tho Years Progress Of Great Rritain.

| In the kingdom and 1t will be an interesting
feature to notice what has beer the progress
made by the agricultural class-what relative
position 1t now bears, as to numbers, TO the otn.
er industrial occupations OF the conntry' ana
what are the marked features of advance OF de-
olinein improvements Of land, cultivation, ma,
chipery, live stock and other heads. 1t Is pre-
mature, perhaps, to enter into anything like an
inquiry. particularly when founded npon mere
estimates of imperfect and incomplete date.
Tbis inquiry, however, will come at most in
terestipe period, because we shall be able to in
stitute a comparison of agricultural progress
with our brethren on the other side OF the AT
lantic. The American Census has just been
taken, and will be much more full and COM
ple.e In all it's heads of inquiry 0ndging from
the nature OF the forms) than we can expect to
obtain In this country. But whetherh LOOKING
at the machinery employed, and the vast held
of ipouiry to be covered, It viii be half so
accurate as our own, is quite another matter.
By attempting too much, the American gov
ernment will fail to insure that uniformity
which ia so essential in such official investiga-
tions. .,
Another reason why the census of 1861 will be
of interest, is, that in the following year we are
10 have another International Exhibition; and
it will be we'll to show our friends and visitors
what has been done here in national improve
ments as regards the cultivation OF the soil
the comparative yield, the rearing and increase
of stock, the economy of labor, beneficial MODES
of cultivation, and harvesting OF crops, APPROX
ed novelties in machinery, and the general re-
suits from improved skill and chemical research.
In oil that relates to agricultural improvement,
by comparison with other nations, and in friend.
ly competition, let us be able at least 10 hold
our place, even If we do not-as we ought TO
do-excel. While we have been sending forth
to every part of the world improved egrcultu-
raj impleme ents and steam. engines, and improv-
ed stock, let us show that We have gone on i'm
proving year by year and that ten years. skill,
capital, and experimental research have not
been thrown away. The field of inquiry over
such period, and embracing go many subjects,
is too wide to do justice to in one article
five will glance at the improvements in ag-
ricultural implements and machinery, we shall
6nd yery great progress has been made, and
attended with vast economy OF time and money,
whether it bo In the more general adoption of
cultiyators, scari6ers, &c.-three and four times
the breadth of ploughs, ever the old system OF
ploughing the more general use OF horse hoes,
sowing machines, and drills. Field steam. en-
pines, too, have superseded the old horse
thrashing machines, at reduction OF time ant
expepse of fully one <hird. There are now from
/ 10000 to 10000 steam engines employed oil
the farms of the kingdom, and this number i
being every day added to, with consequent ad'
vantage Of increasing the labor power and per-
forming the work more quickly. What shoult
we have done in many instances Of late, withou
the reapiug machines, which have been so use
full Something has been done, too, will
steam-ploughs and traotion-engines, with end
less rails and other contrivances; although muc
vet remains to be done in this direction, and II
the more general adoption Of steam to farm
culture and farm operations Portable combin
ed thrashing machines with finishing dressing
machines, and many other noveltiesa are evidence
of the practical skill of our machinists, and o
their appreciation and adoption by the farming
interest. The increased demand for oilcake-
breakers and bone mile, mark an era in the us'
of these important aids to the farmers. Tel
years ago, oilcake as an article of import wa
scarcely mentioned, either for feeding or manure
now our imports exceed $4,000 tons, beside
u what is made at home; and of bones we ais
obtain foreign supplies to the extent of s5, ,OO
9 tons. So with nitrate Of soda, largely used 70
the soil, our imports have doubledn ten years
reaching now 48 $50 tons, of which probably
70 one.half is employed as fertilizer. Our guam
imports have also doubled. Coprolites wer
scarcely known ten or twelve years ago. ant
Y now 10000 tons are raised annually (accordinl
to Mr.. Robert Hunts statements) from Cam
bridge and Suffolk, besides Others lmporte'
- from France and Belgium, Indeed, in nothing
has there been more marked advance than II
he the extended manufacture and general use O
artificial manures, which have had 30 benefc-
jal effect on the increase of our crops.
ta The improyemets effected in drainage, in ma
nuripp. and in more skilful cultivation an,
aronpinp, Il would be difficult to fully appraise
Rut those who have had opportunities of trav
ersipg the country can best estimate the re
marksble improvements thus effected
4 Il is by means Of these improvements In til
4 lape and implments that, with an increase
population OF S3,O0O,0O0 souls, We have ye
been able to meet their food wants, with scarce
q ly any addition to our foreign imports. Th
y foreign supplies Of u wheat SSS in leoO In r9un
n aonr q 800 600 cwts In 1853 the imports wer
vbeat 4 600 600 quarters, and -four 332S ,OC
- owls. And il should be remembered that th
E manufacturing industries draw somewhat larg
- 10 unon wheat supplies now to what they di
u" ,ban In the increased demand for starch, TO
Landry nurposes, for stifening fabrics, for gui
isbels. &c. The consumption Of starch cannC
be less than 5000 or Al, 600 tons year, prir
cinalIy from wheat, which involves large col
sumption Of grain.
~ The railway extension Of the kingdom ha
been another medium by which agricultui
has been materially benefited. In 1901 the
- we're but 6,733 miles of railway open; last ye
the extent of lines had increased to nearly II
0)ij miles In operation. These have been grea
Iv instrumental in bringing remote districts in
q r,ore close communication, and in aHording II
c;it;ea for the transportation Of agricultur
nrodnce. live stock, timber, and other supple
: Msnv districts, are however, yet remote fro
- rsiIyav stations, and lis 10 equestion wheth
49, lioht tramways might not be conveniently 10
Sewn in some localities where an expensi
ra,lroad would not pay; and whether 1t is D
asa. noas;hle for the farmer to employ the stea
cred powsr At his command with greater ecouon
and effect upon the land IN preparing anu &C
'D'' yeying his farm produce to market -,
Il was stated in the last Census report, tn
one of the obvious physical effects OF the
50, crease Of population In the land is, that
nroportion Of land to each person diminish
/, and the decrease has been such, that, In
- firat half Of the present century, the number
acres 10 each person living has fallen from
II. - o acres In Great Britain; from to 2 aci
- n Tsnsland and Wales. As the population
tha last ten years is estimated to have increa
toro mn moo this relative proportion Of land
eng si each has consequently been further reduced
will AZ a counteryailng advantage, the people ht
, and hsan broupht into each others neighoorho
shs;r average districts from each other has b
ssduced at The ratio of 3 to 2; labor has b
div;dad: industry has been organized In TOW
and the quantity of produce, either consis
,u,al- Of. or exchangeAble for, the commercial
\, oancies and necessarics OF lie, has, IN
ee.. mass largely increased ana Is increasing