The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-11-13
The Crops Of the Year.

The 6rst momen,ous question for a
ton to consider is securing an abundance of
food Nations and tribes once numerous
and powerful have perishei from the face
of the earth by famines. From the frs. ap-
p.arance OF the potato rot in Ireland, near
ly twenty years ago. the population of that
island has diminished from above eight to
little over Eve millions. Thousands per
ished from famine, becaus, of the failure Of
a root which formed chief portion Of their
food. This took place in our own day. and
is a sequel to many cases Of similar ma.
,ure which occurred in other portions Of the
globe. All the arts connected with civilizs-
ton are dependent. not only upon an abun-
dant supply of food. but a surplus supply
from those who pursue the art of husband
ry. II every man was compelled to till the
soil to obtain a scanty supply Of food for
himself and family. civilization, as we un
derstand the subject. would be unknown
There would be no books. no institutions Of
learning, and none of the fine arts practis-
ed iu fact no cities, and no community in
the whole earth of higher type than the
Bedouins of the desert The very rapid
advancement in population. 10 wealth and
power of the United States. has been due in
a great measure to the fertility of the soil
and the favorable nature of our climate =
Since the great West was opened up to cul
lure by An energetic people. vast surplus
crops of the soil have tended TO multiply
manufactures. aud advance education and
all the arts with rspidity unparalleled in
history. The nature and q ,antity of the
crops raised annually should. he erefore, form
the most prominent consideration for the
people For several years these have been
wonderfully abundant. and large surplus
supplies have been furnished for the popu
Iations of Europe, especially those of Great
Britan, " hen tie crops there had in great
measure failed for about three years in sue
cession. As these surplus supplies Of food
chiefly furnish the sinews for war. well
as the arts of peace, considerable anxiety
was felt respecting their condition and qnau-
tity the present year. This anxiety was ex-
periencsd because a severe frost had visited
extensive sections of Ohio, Michigan, Hi
nois, Indiana. and Wisconsin,. during the
month Of September last, and il was repor-
ted that corn. potatoes and buckwheat had
suffered to an alarming extent Statistics
| collected and furnished by the Agricultural
| Department at Washington, afford informa-
ton on this subject Of an instructive aud
deeply interesting nature. The total wheat
| prod act of the loyal States for 1853. is es-
[ tim dte0 a. 49, DuSneis OATS, 49,
| 85S, ,167 corn. 449, l63S94; buckwheat,
17,I93. .23o potatoes, 97,s7o o35. In '62,
| the product was as follows:-Wheat, 189,-
| 993, 500 bushels; rye. 21 ,254 barley. H.
9sl,464 oats, 173 $50. 997; corn, $50, 704,
474 buckwheas. l3 722 995 potatoes,
IlS,533,1 Is bushels There has, therefore.
been an increase of the wheat crop amour
ting to 1,O74.73e bushels OF oats, amour.
ting to 1897, ITO bushels, but very large
decrease 10 all the other crops, especially
corn and potatoes-in the former amounting g
10 no less than 1880. $50 bushels About
40, 600 900 of wheat and IL $50. 600 hush
els of corn were exported of the crop of
1863; but the crops in Europe this yesr
have been very abundant. and the foreign
demand for our surplus will thereby be d.
minished in proportion. The domestic CON
sumption Of corn is set down at 575o24.-
I32 bushels annually, and at this rste there
will be deficiency this year OF 1855
600 bushels, and the hsy crop s deficient
abeu, 1854, 900 tuns. This quantity OF
corn allow ed for home consumption is large
and in A certain sense Hypothetical Many
millio,s of bushels OF the crop OF 1862 are
still in s.orehouses. and millions have 6sen
wasted annually IN the fields. Economy