Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-24
A GOODLY HERITAGE.
a m Icstsnaste Of AgrfcuItu raj PossibiItfs
Some Astonishingi Figures, as

a
An Estimate of Agricultu raj PossibiItis
Some AstonishingI Figures. -
X Robert P. Porter has an article in the
International ReviesD regarding agri-
culture in the United States. make
the following suggestive extracts:
Our total cereal product increased In
ten years from l, ,450 .000, 600 bu shells to
2,l75, ,OOO, 900 bushels, the export move
ment from 80, ,0OO, 600 in 1868 to ls9, ,oOO,-.
600 in 1878. About three per cent. OF
the national supply was exported IN
1868; nearly ten per cent. in 1878. Mr.
Dodge estimates the crop OF 1878 at
$500 .254, $50 bushels, of which 246, ,6ll,-
bO7, or nearly eleven per cent, were ex-
ported. 1t may surprise many to tind
that only about nine per cent. of our
total grain product, by bushels, is ex-
ported. Yet this is an immense item in
the worlds markets, and with cheapen-
ing transportation is capable of being
greatly increased.
The only hope for the British and
Russian farmer is the high rates of
transportation here, and the fact Gas
some British writers say) that the
American farmers, through bad farm
ing are exhausting the soil. Such talk
is the merest nonsense. 1t has been
odiu tIhb III tAib oleh ONo w
be subdued between the Missouri and
the Pacific coast, the proportion of the
cultivated area devoted to wheat will
be larger than in the territory already
occupied. When all these available lands
are taken up, and population threatens
TO press upon the subsistence, fertiliza-
ton, with rotation, will increase the
rate of yield Gas has happened in the
most populous districts of Europe), and
then the center of wheat production
may possibly recede slowly eastward,
obedient to the impulse of improved
agriculture.
Careful estimates show that the
United States is capable of maintaining
an area of 2OO,0O0,000 acres of corn
lands, which, with the average yield
of the past ten years would give US over
$3.50, ,OOO, 900 bushels of corn. While
the western line OF maize culture
traverses the eastern slopes of the Rocky
mountains at an average elevation of
about 5000 feet, wheat can be grown
1000 to 5000 feet above the maize line.
Recent geographical reports show that
q large portion of the Pacific coast is
susceptible of culture. either with or
without irrigation. The governor OF
Washington Territory claims for it great
superiority in wheat production, and
prophecies a yield in the near future
three times as large as the present sup
ply of California. The Governor of
Dakota estimates the area suitable for
field culture, and especially suited to
wheat growing, at 100000 acres.
These views may prove too sanguine,
but there is q good basis for some en-
thusiasm. The Indian Territory, says
j. r. Dodge, though only half as large
has nearly as much more available for
agricultural production. Montana,
better adapted to grazing purposes, is
estimated by Professor Cyrus Thomas
to contain 100000 acres of irriga-
BILE lands. In all there is an aggregate
of 200, ,O0O, 900 acres of land, from the
northern and more elevated portions of
which the growth of the maize is ex-
cluded, in which wheat farming will
for many years exist as q specially.
Turning from corn and wheat to one
other great staple, we find that, accord
ing to Edward Atkinson, the whole cot
ton crop of the whole world could be
raised on a section of Texas less than
one-twelfth of its area; or could be
divided between any two of the other
principal cotton states without ex-
hausting one halt of their good lands.
The worlds cotton crop is now equal
to from 10, ZOO, 900 to $4,000, 900 bales of
cotton, over 5000. ZOO Of which are an
nually raised in this country
Here, then, is the rich heritage to
which we are born. Our Pilgrim
fathers found it, yet knew it not. Nearly
two generations passed away before the
treasures of this continent attracted the
populations of the old world, nor do
they to this day understand the vast
ness of our store. We have learned
something of the distribution of our
agricultural interest, of its drifting TO
the West and Southwest, and of its
changed conditions. We have seen the
population of the older States overtake
their food-producing capacity, and have
learned something concerning that de-
ficiency and the source from which it
is supplied. Certainly we feel reassured
about the continued abundant yield of
our soil. This generation has witnessed
the migration of the center of corn pro-
duction from the South to the West;
andof wheat from the Middle States to
the ar West. Not the least interesting
of these changes has been the remarka-
BILE increase in the cotton crop since free
labor has taken the place of slavery.
But the great central fact is the increase
in the past decade of our agricultural
products, and the rapidity with which
the Western States, ushered into exist
ence as it were by the war, have devel-
oped their vast resources. The small
ness of our exports compared with the
home consumption should stimulate
alike the producer and those en-
gagged in transportation to continue TO
push our wares by the aid of cheap
freight into every foreign country, hs
the facts show that the possibilities of
our agricultural interests are rs yet an
unknown quantity.