The Portland daily press., 1878-05-23
AGRICULTURAL.
The Agricultural Outlook.


The great depression in business, accom-
panied by the long list of bankrupt firms
and corporations, is more apparent in the
great centres of wealth than elsewhere, be-
cause the unprecedented shrinkage in values
has borne with greater severity on city real
estate, merchandise, shipping, on traders
and manufacturers, than upon farm property
or upon the farming classes. Turning to the
agricultural districts it must be admitted that
our products are greater than ever before,
while the prospects for the coming season
are still more encouraging. True, prices are
low and it is difficult time for such farmers
as are in debt to meet their liabilities, vet
such enormous quantities of grain and pro-
visions as the farms of America are turning
out must have the effect of reducing the cost
OF living in this country, as we'll as of fur
nishing vast totals for export abroad, ena-
bling us on the one hand to compete in the
worlds market with our manufactured goods
and on the other to draw to this country
such stream OF foreign gold as shall restore
prosperity, plenty and peaceful contentment
to this favored land.
During the past year our exports have ex-
ceeded our imports by over 100000, hence
the country ought to be that much richer.
The export of breadstuffs continues on very
large scale. Since the first of last September
there has been exported from this country
$4,000, 900 bushels of wheat, OF which 40, O0O,-
600 were to Great Britain; 81 ZOO, 900 bushels
of corn, of which 100000 were to Great
Britain 5000, 900 barrels of flour and $780,
900 bushels of rye, in all about 120,0OO,O00
bushels. While England's wants are as large
as ever, her sources of supply are somewhat
limited as compared with last year, and she
will place dependence upon the United States
for larger proportion of her breadstuffs than
ever before. How well this country is able to
respond may be judged by the fact that the
wheat crop OF 1877 has proven unprecedented
in point OF yield and condition. The agricul-
tural bureau estimate of the crop at 100000.
600 bushels Is now considered too low by en-
inent authorities, who place the actual yield
at fully 375,000000 bushels. The coming
crop, provided no unforeseen calamity occurs,
must exceed 400,000.000 bbstels, giving the
nation q surplus tor exports such as never be-
fore occurred in its whole history.
Since the true wealth of country consists
In its agricultural investments and possibili-
ties, the United States cannot be considered
poor when it has at its command more land
in cultivation, more agricultural products,
more skilled labor, more railroads than ever
before, Official figures show that the in
crease has been greater in the seven years
since 1870 than in the ten years between 1860
and 1870. We had 120000,00O acres under
the plough in 1877, against 100000 acres in
1870. In 1877 the number of horses was TO-
329 700, against 7,145,37O in 1870; mich cows
11,3O0,0O0, against $685., 1892; oxen and other
cattle 1925, 300, against 1855, 276; sheep 35-
740,50O. against %, 477.951; swine so 1852 500,
against 25, 134,569. We raised 36O,O0O,0OO
bushels of wheat in 1877, against 235, 1884. 700
bushels in 1870; 1,340.0O0,000 bushels of
corn, against 1904, 255, 500; 4O5. 100000
bushels of oats, against 247, 277 400; and
other crops in the same proportion, all indi
eating that the hope of the country in its
agricultural resources is we'll founded, and
that the surplus products of the soil are in
creasing year by year with wonderful yet
gratifying rapidity.-American Culticator.