Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-21
Totsl- .1.2s7. Osg. 2gg J. SO. $50, OOO

In 1850, the production was 8S7, 1885,,
g67 bushels, showing an increase in 10
wears of 81 pei. cent. If that rate of in
crease shall be maintained for the succeed
ing 10 years, the yearly product in the
1887 viii reach 2,422, 6l3,6 2O bushels.
The large immigration into the United
States of European farmers, seeking cheap
and fertile land, may expedite that result.
The number of acres cultivated for
cereals in the United States was, in 1868,
G6, 7Og. 4J6; while the whole area OF the
country. besides Alaska, of ! ,S79, 600, 900
acres, at least three-fourths were good for
agriculture. Thus the area now in cereals
can easily be increased tenfold.
The population of the United States
may be taken at 100000 in 1868,
which. at eight bushels head, would con
sumo directly $4,000, 600 bushels. Of
the remaining 1,I5O, 900, 900 bushels
NEARLY 500, 600, 900 or 6OO, 900, 600 were
fed 10 animals, eaten here, or exported;
and large quantities were distilled into
spirits or turned into starch and other pre-
parations used in the arts. Barley is pro
duced in amounts insufficient 10 supply
the breweries, and in 1868 we actually
imported 4, POS, S94 bushels.
While the cereal crop of the United
States in 1868 was AZ the rate OF sc
Gmperial) English bushels head for the
whole population, that of Europe was
only at the rate of g bushels. The pop
ulalion of this country in the year 1900
viii be, according to the best estimates,
100, 600, 600, and at the present rate OF
- IF pavaalc in that
year viii be 5000, 900, 900 bushels, or
more than thrce-ffths of all that is now
produced in Europe and this country to-
.ejher
Mr.. RuggIes also presents the best
known statistics of the cereal products of
all other parts of the world, but they are
imperfect. In general terms most OF the
countries of Europe produce enough
grain for their own people. But France,
Holland, and Switzerland import food
largely, and Great Britain actually Pur-
chases every year for consumption, l2O, .
600, 600 bushels Of cereals, or %, Ash, I5S
hundred weight.
''To obtain an adequate idea Of the inn
mensitv Of the quantity automatically de-
described rs Gj,4S4, T5S cwt., it is neces-
sary only to consider the number OF YES
sls required to carry il. Amounting to
3,274, 237 tons, ii would fill G,54S vessels
carving 500 tons each, which, placed IL
line. stem 10 stern, would reach more thar
half way 10 the Lands End from The
Straits of Dover. If carried on land II
railway cars. the train would stretch across
the continent OF Europe, from Calais t
Marseilles, and leave a remnant more thai
long enough TO span the Mediterranean.
Al this mus, be furnished by othe
countries, and the amount needed increase
every year. Russia and the United State
are the only countries which can furnish ii
and their people must feed England. The,
already produce nearly half of all the grail
Of Chrislcndom, and win be able for man.
ages to feed not only the British Islands
but a large part of continental Europe
These facts lead Mr.. Ruggles to the con
clGsion that 'thc advancing civilization 0
the age now demands increased faailitie
On the land. with freedom from mOnopC
lies and every other unnecessary burde
on internal transportation.
The domestic animals of the Unite
states decreased in numbers during th
war, except sheep, which were cxter
siyely raised for wool. Mr., Ruggles give
the following figures for 1868: