The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-13
Comparative oank Of the tnisea State.
i'm the PA odu csiun of Cereal.

i'm the Production OF Cereals.
At the International Statistical Congress-
lately 10 session at the Hague, in Holland,
Mr. Samuel B. Ruggles, official delegate from
this country, presented some interesting sta
tistics respecting the production of cereals in
this country, and in Europe. From Mr. Rug
giles report it appears that prior to the acqui-
sition of Alaska the territory OF the United
States was wholly within the temperate zone,
and contained 1,s79,146120 acres, three
fourths of which, or upwards OF l,4OopO0OOO
acres are susceptible of cultivation and use.
We can realize to some extent the stupendous
development this country is to attain when
we know that of this immense area but g.
10000 acres were devoted to cereals in 1865
and 66,709,OO0 in 1865 Wheat, oats and In
dian corn are the principal cereals. Wheat
occupies less than a third of the whole area,
oats about seventh, and corn about half.
The number Of acres devoted to cereals in the
United Kingdom was in 1868, 11,659,S55 in
France in 1867, 39,SO4650, in Prussia in 1862,
22,511 ,496. Our production of cereals was, in
1850, s67, $4,000 bu, in 1860, 1927 $4,000, in
1868, 1,45O, 7sG,OOO. The increase from 1850
to 1868, was 67 per cent. At this rate, the
product in the United States will be in 1888,
2,422,S13 ,G20 bu. Looking at the immense
tide of immigration setting towards our shores,
it does not require great amount of credulity
to believe this enormous production will be
actually realized. ...... ..-....
Russia is the only country in Europe that
can show larger product of cereals than the
United States. She will not long be able to
claim this pre-eminence. In 1850 with her
| 81 100000 Of population Russia produced but
1,35S, 437 800 imperial bushels or 22.1 bu. per
head; while the United States with a popula-
ton 81 100000, produced ,22l ,42S,O 900 bu. or
3s2 per head. Looking at the production OF
wheat alone the superiority of Russia is still
greater, her product being 43s, 437, 600 bu. or
IL per head, and that of the United States
165, 1884 900 bu. or 5.3 per head. France rank.
next, her aggregate production of cereals being
in 1860, 7,216,O00 bu. or 1919 per head. In
the production of wheat she is relatively in
| advance either ofthe United States or Russia,
the aggregate product being POI 1853 900 Blu
or II per head. Germany comes next, her
aggregate product of cereals being 664 All 900
Blu. OF 17.3 per head. With population Of
100000, her wheat product was only 10S,-
100000 Blu. or per head. Austria with pop
ulation of 32,573,O 900 had an aggregate cereals
product of 81 81, 765 blu. or 17S per head
Her product of wheat was 143,OOOOO0 bu. OF
A per head. The United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland with population of 3d.
S66,735 had an aggregate cereal product oil
3s6,3O6,OO0 bu. or 1925 per head. The pro-
duct Of wheat was 12s, 2S5, 900 bu. or 4.3 per
head. Spain with a population of 16,O46,OOO
produced 226,609,OOO bu. of cereals or IA pei
head, and 107, 179, 600 bu. of wheat or &C. pei
head. Italy with population of 1881 900
produced, of cereals 159, lS4, 900 blu. or 81 pei
head, of wheat 81, 900 or 80 per head
Denmark with population of only 1,71OOOO
and an aggregate cereal product of only 81,
$4,000 Blu. was relatively superior to any 9th.
er country of Europe, the product per head
being $3.50 blu. The relative product of wheat
varies much more than that of cereals gener.
ally. Roumania, for instance, produces II bu
of wheat to each inhabitant, while Sweden
has but half a bushel. When we remember
that wheat is one Of the essentials of good
living, the effect Of this disparity will appear
no unimportant element in calculating the
relative comfort of the common people in
those countries. To sum up, the whole o.
Europe with population of 2S6, 275, 2S4, pro
duced of cereals, 1885,, 725 bu. or 1876 pei
head; of wheat alone, 1,464 ,341 III Blu. or 81
per head. The United States as already re-
marked, produced of cereals, 1872 bu., and O.
wheat, So bu. to each inhabitant.