The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-04

"twelve bushels when it brings only 81.
Under a narrow view, il may be about the
same. But in the first place. it rarely hap
pens that the price increases in the same
proportion as the crop falls short. But if it
/ did, there are many reasons why the larger
quantity is great public benefit both to the
consumer and even the farmer himself, who
gets an abundance for his own use
at small cost, creating an improved
condition of all his stock and
of the farm itself Cheap and abundant
food is too manifestly blessing for con-
troversy. 1t instantly creates a margin OF
savings to ali classes to be used in other in
dulgencies quickening every branch of trade.
1t increases the actual consumption largely,
ana improves the amount of trade in favor
of all, even the producer himself. When
ever the farmers become fully converted to
the doctrine OF large yields, all their troubles
will vanish, whether prices be high or low.
All the profits are found in margin on
the amount produced per acre. 1t
may lie said tina. everybody knows this
that il is tritc and nonsensical to repeat it.
Not 50. 1t is not halt understood, for if it
were, the prac ice would be coDformed to
the doctrines. and farmers would not com
nit the folly of Flowing aud cultivating 20
acres to get what might be obtained with
lass labor from Is. The yield is too much
of it charged or credited to the season. For
although that has great effect, 1t may lie
counteracted when unfavorable in a large
degree by the skill and thorough
ness of cultivation. A great
yield is always great benefit.
But there is another aspect of the case that
begins to assume character of some impor-
lance. The amount Of acreage producing sn
average yield per acre may be so great as to
more than supply the demand. Too much
wheat may be produced for the worlds con-
sumption, and the price may thus be de-
pressed, to the detriment of all en-
gagged in the business. That contingency
is not merely Imaginary. In The first place
there is a mistaken notion out that every
man who is not producer is drone and a
burden. Ii man pays for what he eats he
is profit able customer, no matter what his
business is. And when the farmer under
takes to drive men ont of other pursuits he
is creating competition in his own business
that just at this time he would be better
1t is one of the doubtful questions
connected with immigration whether the
large numbers added to the grain
raisers of the western plains may not have
preiudicial effect for a time on the agricul-
tural interests of the older cultivated regions.
But the increase in the number of farmers is
far less important in its bearing en- produc-
ton than the immense increase of power
caused by improved machinery. The ex-
pansiOn or productive area in the virgin soil
Of the northwest by this added eleuent is
such as to Justify the enquiry whether or not
a glut of the grain market may not vet he
experienced. 1t is not impossible that
a period will occur before thu great West is |
filled with its population of varied purs uits. |
when there will be too large q harvest tor |
the profit of the farming interest. A |
European market may always prevent this, |
and it may not. For as all the world is now |
an open market for all the world, surfeit /
may only be realized when there is too |
much food raised for the needs of the race. |
Even this is not improbable, in view of
what Russia and Australia are doing and |