The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-10-04
The Crops Of 1852.

liberal reward to the ayriculturiSiS of
the couniry. There are certain districts
in which particular crops will fall below
the average, and the loss TO individuals
may be severe, but the general result.
taking the country as n whole, will be
bountiful and profitable. In some dis
tricts there are failures in the oats crop,
the failure being in not equaling the
general product. In other districts
the growing potatoes have rotted and
proved a total loss, while throughout
the country the crop is so abundant as
to exclude any apprehension that pota-
toes will have to be imported. as last
year, to the value of $1,000. 600. The
wheat crop is not only prolific. but OF a
superior quality, as is also that of rye.
flax and barley. The cotton crop is
still undetermined. but all the indica-
tions are that it will equal the best ex-
pectations-
The other and perhaps the most inn
portant of all the crops in National
sense, and as one in which the interests of
the greatest number of persons are in
volved, is the corn. The early summer
was unfavorable. The planting in a
very extended area was de aged beyond
precedent, and in an equally extensive
area the first planting was lost or de-
stroyed by the excessive rains. This last
portion was, however, replanted, and the
more genial sun of the later summer
months has wondrously promoted the
growth of the whole vast area planted
with corn. 1t has recovered the time
lost in June and the first of July, and
on this the I'd day of September it prom
ises yield equal to the average of a
number of years. Not only does the
yield per acre promise in this way, but
the acreage devoted to corn this year is
much greater than heretofore. This is
due to the change of policy in many of
the Southern States, where the rule has
been in the past to buy corn and meat
for home supply. This year there will
be thousands of farms at the South
where corn will be raised for domestic
uses, and where efforts will be made to
feed sufficiency of hogs TO meet the
home wants for pork and bacon. Il is
safe to assume that the acreage devoted
to the growth of corn this year will be
increased twenty per cent. b. the addi-
tons made in the Southern States. The
total production OF corn last yea- was
comparatively small, the yield per acre
being far below the average, and the
total yield of the whole country this
year may be increased largely, even if
the yield per acre be no greater than
last year-a result however, not antici-
pated at this time from the presen. con-
dition of the growing crop.
The quality and quantity OF the crops
of 1892 are of great importance fnan-
cially. What we produce above and
beyond the needs for domestic con-
sumption is what we will have TO sell,
and represents the profits which in one
form or another are to be added to the
national wealth. On this point a COM
parison of the annual production and
the annual expectation does not fairly
represent the extent of earnings. 1t is
very evident that our home con-
sumption of agricultural products in
ereases even faster than our population.
Our population increases at a liberal
rate annually, calling for proportion
ate increase of the supply of food prod
ucts, but it is unquestionably true. also:
that our consumption of bread and
meat products increases faster than
does the mere number of our popula-
ton. We consume more of the ordin-
ary food products per capita every
year. This is due to the general pros
perity of the country and to the always
increasing improvement in the trans
portation and all other items entering
into and reducing the cost Of
production. The man who in the
distribution of his earnings has
heretofore been able to allot one
half his income per week to
purchasing given weight OF bread and
meat, as the prices of these articles are
reduced in consequence of the use of
improved machinery or in the cost of
a., that h., Is
food obtainable for the same amount of
money is enlarged, and the amount pur-
chased for consumption is increased
proportionately. The growth of the for
eign trade-that is, the exports of bread
stulfs and provisions to supply foreign
demand-and the amount needed to
meet the requirements of home con-
sumption cannot be mea a;ured by the
extent of the increase of the home pop
ulation, nor BIZ the numbers in the for
eign States dependent upon this coun-
try for fool. We need an annual in
crease of food products for home con-
sumption far in excess of any increase
in population, and each foreign popula-
tion TO whom we supply cheap food will
require of us an increase in quantity in
proportion TO the reduction in the price
There are now thousands of meat-con-
sumers and consumers of American flour
in Europe to whom until within a few
years white bread was unknown and
meat luxury only tasted on rare festi-
vals and holidays.
Thus, though the crops OF 1882 mark
an era in our agricultural products not
exceeded in our history, any year that
does not equal or exceed the previous
one may be styled a failure, to the ex-
tent that it fails to meet the ever-grow-
inc demand not only for home consump-
ton, but also to meet the ever-increas-
ing supply to feed our customers abroad.
1t is too cary yet to venture on fig
ures rs to the number of tons of flour
of corn, and of provisions we will have
at the close of the harvest, or of the
tons of surplus grain and meats we will
have to sell The deficiency of corn,
and consequently of provisions. last
year must be considered, as also must
the increased demand for home con-
sumption. This latter is an unknown
quantity, and it must be supplied and
satisfied before we can venture to seek
foreign markets. But one thing may be
assured as ascertained and positive:
that, let our product be as large and as
comprehensive as it NAV, there will be
a market and demand forevery pound
and bushel which we may produce
Not a grain need be wasted;a a customer
will apply with his money for every
pound, or bushel, or head Chicago
Tribune.
The Poisonous Mushroom.