The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-09-20
from ihs New York Ey.n;ns So:t

ffon tne rev York Evening Post,
Our increase in all he chief articles
OF agricultural produce, as shown by
the census report is something enor-
nous.
Vine has increased fourteen fold
since 1867, and nearly doubled in the
last decade, California being its chief
PROD. acer.
Hops have increased seven fold in the
same time, and more than doubled in
the last ten years. New York growing
two-thirds of the whole crop.
Barley has increased six fold,
Flax six fold, and faxseed trebled.
Wheat trebled and oats doubled.
Irish potatoes have only increased
one third, and sweet decreased one
half.
Live stock have trebled in value. and
now amounts to the handsome total of
one thousand f7e hundred and twenty
nve millions of dollars, or an average Of
nearly Two hundred dollars for every
family in the nation.
ANIMALS slaughted have nearly quad
rupled In value, now amounting to four
hundred millions of dollars annually.
Wool has increased from sixty to one
hundred millions of pounds.
Cotton is half a million of bales
above what it was in 1850, and three
fifths of its amount in 1860.
In only one instance is there a de-
crease of an important product, and
that is In Indian corn, which falls short
OF the amount reported in 1860 by sew
enty-eit hit millions of bushels, OF ten
per cent. of the whole.
In some of the lesser products, how
ever, the downcome is considerable.
Silk cocoons are only third of their
former amount, hemp a sixth, peas and
beans and rice about third each.
Buckwheat has decreased from seven
teen millions of bushels to nine, ard
rye from twenty one millions of bushels
to sixteen.
The farms themselves, as may be ex-
pected from this graf increase of pro-
duct, have risen in value from three to
nine Thousand millions of dollars, while
farming implements. valued in 1850 at
$l5l .5S7 ,638, now foots up $3.50, S7S, 400,
an annual increase of nine millions OF
dollars. Few minds can form even the
ASAAOeNot COi'CCDblOu VI Muttt
bers imply. The value of the farms i'll
dollar bills would take an expert ac-
countant, capable of getting over one
hundred a minute, five hundred years
to count them, or, if Communists and
lnternationals had their way, and their
value was divided equally among the
whole people, it would afford 81 900 to
each family, in addition to the million
or two which would be sure to stick TO
the hands of the dividers.
The farms have considerably increas-
ed in number, but diminished in size
from 1919 to- 53 acres, being on an aver
age fifty acres each, less than in 1850.
This decrease extends to every State in
the Union save four: Arkansas, Massa-
chusetts, New Hampshire and New
Mexico. OF the present number Ct
farms Il, 659, 1851 6,S75 are under three
acres. Those with more than 10 acres
and less than 500, have increased those
with less than ten acres decreased III
number; one-sixth of the whole are oyel
100 acres snd under 500, but the largest
number [847, GA contain between 2f
and 80 acres.
In France the extension of railways is
said to have the effect of shifting much
of the wine product to those districts
best adapted to the purpose and most
convenient to market. With us a pro
cess at Least in part the reverse seems
going on. Great eYertions have been
made from time TO tire, and mucll
money expended, 10 get flax culture To-
Called as an irdustry in New England
and some of the Middle States, where
the land for its product is of the best
description, and facilities for market all
that could be desired. But it could not
be done, and it is now rapidly disap-
pearing from those States that took
most care to extend aud keep it, and
going West, to where the land is not
better. if SO good, for the finer qualities,
and where the best part of the product
the fiber-has to be thrown to the
manure heap, for want of a market.
There it is extending with surprising
rapidity, apparently withoutspecial effort
on thepartof any one to get it to do so.
Twenty years ago Kentucky supplied
nearly third of all our flax product;
Virginia and New York about million
of pounds each, making up together as
much as Kentucky; and Ohio supplied
less than half million of pounds. Bat
now Ohio has nearly forty times its
former product, while Kentucky has on
L. tenth of its, and Virginia has gone
down to a seventh. The chief flax pro-
ducing States are: Ohio, $4,000, GOO of
pounds, or two thirds of our whole pro
duct of q, l33, OS0 pounds, the product
in 1850 was only 7,209,616 pounds i;
New York, 5000, 900, and Illinois, O.
0)O, 900; while New England, with the
exception of little in Maine and Yer
mont, may be said to have ceased to be
flax producing; as have also Alabama,
Delaware and Georgia.
New York has now, as hitherto, about
a sixth of the whole mich cows of the
nation, and used to occupy similar
position as to working oxen; but how
Texas has twice the number it can
show. California has increased its
sheep from 1854 to 2,76S,17 being
an increase of 100 fold and the largest
made by any State III any important ar
ticle. Louisiana still grows nearly all
sugar, but the pigs have changed their
headquarters from Tennessee and Ken
lucky to Illinois and Missouri. Penn
sylvania, which used to be highest in
the production of wheat, is now sixth
on the list, Illinois with 80, Iowa with
90. Ohio and Indiana with - each, and
Wisconsin with %, all coming beforeits
10 millions of bushels.
The agricultural position of New
England is a puzzle which Gdipus him
self could not unravel. A people in the
foremost rank for intelligence, force
and good sense, more bent usually than
most others in doing the right and the
best, when opportunity otiers-taking
time by the forelock and putting off till
tomorrow what can be done to>day;
having before them line upon line, pre-
cept upon precept; supported by expe-
rience upon experience, as to the posi-
bility, propriety and advantage of very
greatly increasing their agricultural
product Mt little or no increase of
trouble, they stand face to face with
deteriorating position, with bountiful
nature ready to increase her product to
almost any amount and put millions of
dollars in their pockets, but they don't
put forth hand to help her or show
any desire to be the recipient of her in
creased bounty.
They are content to go on year after
year with every important crop decreas-
ing in amount. Wheat, corn. oats