New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-28
BRE1DSTUFFS IN 1870,

Reports of correspondents, the burden of
many paragraphs in exchanges, and an official
opinion from high source in Washington,
unite in the opinion that the wheat crop of
this year will be several million bushels below
that of 1869. Illinois, the leading State, may
be II per cent short; California, that produces
far more according to her population than any
other State, will fall, some think 10, others
say 20 per cent below the 21,5O0,0O0 bushels
she gave Last year.
The average per acre the country over will
not be much, if at all, over twelve bushels.
AS to figures, nothing can now be known, as
the American price hangs on the English de-
mand, and that depends on the English har-
vest and on the crop in Hungary, in Russia,
and in Turkey. This much, however, can now
be said, that farmers are likely to get as much
for their wheat this year as they received last,
and they will probably see an advance of from
25 to 80 cents bushel during some part of
the season.
All things considered, we are glad the great
crop of go has given wheat growing moderate
check The elements that go to make this
grand cereal are the most precious constituents
of our soil. When we raise 25 bushels of
wheat on an acre we have strained the capacity
of that acre and rendered it less able to pro-
duce, unless we recruit its ability with appro-
pirate plant-food. The farmer who turns the
sod of the prairie finds beneath it a soil teem-
ing with fertility. 1t has lime and potassa, it
is rich in the nitrates and in phosphates, and
he can count on 80 and 40 bushels of wheat.
OF course the inducements to SOW great
breadth of it are strong. He is sure of an
abundance for himself. The great implements
of modern agriculture render him in meas
ure independent as to labor; he has stout
horses, and the railroad station is not remote.
An observing French writer, Count De Careil,
who last year made the tour of the prairies
has declared in Europe that he was much i'm
pressed with the wheat growing power of our
Republic, and his printed statements are rather
alarming to grain-grOwers in Europe. He noted
vast extent of fresh and fertile soil; he
observed that railroads covered the face of
the country he saw vigorous and enter
prising race to whom all futures are possible,
and who shrink from no hardship and finch
from no toll and he fears that America will
drive other wheat-growing countries out of
competition and mOnOpolize the grand cereal.
Is this desirable2 VIII wheat-prOducing as
the speciality of American agriculture advance
the essential and lasting veal of the country
We think not and we hope the farmers of
Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Indiana
and Ohio, each of which States last year gave
the world more than twenty million bushels
will reflect whether it is best for them to draw
out the fairness of their hOmesteads and put
it into such enormous wheat crops. On our
desk lies a letter from farmer in Iowa, ask
ing of Prof. Law whether it will be safe to
feed his work-hOrses on wheat. Corn with him
is worth 40 cents, oats 80 to 40, and wheat 40
to 45. Prof. Law advises him to use wheat in
the manager with caution, as it is concen-
trated and heating grain In another genera
ton the children of that farmer will be col
lecting bones and sending afar for sulphate of
ammonia and other salts with which to raise
wheat enough for their own bread More than
once we have warned the wheat-growers that
they are drawing checks on a bank which will
protest their chldren's drafts. Why should
we waste their heritage in order that English
lords may continue to give up 10000 acres of
wheat-land to deer-parks and rabbit-pastures 7
Half of our Western roads will prove curse
rather than benefit, if used to drain away the
richness of the prairies and pour their afiuence
into the sewers of London and polute the
rivers of England