The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-06

successful rivalry with the whsa4 producers
OF the United States. 40 far as tho consumers in
northwestern Europe arc concerned II N.
nevertheless. true that the annual value Of In
dian wheat exported rose In the ten years end
ing with 1882 from less than 100000 to up
ward OF $44.000.00O. and that in the last men
toned yoar million dollars worth was taken
In Gibraltar. These facts. although they can
not 10 fairly held to involve threat OF wrest-
ing from our wheat growers their chief Gus
tolnerS. do indicate that British India has q
chance OF supplying some minor markets. OF
which we have been. Or nigh. have become.
purvsy ors and especially such as lie on the
great ronto3 OF commerce between the foreign
settlements in japanese and Chinese waters
and the ports Of the Levant. Southern Russia.
too. there Ia reason to arprchend mny be able
to meet large part OF the demand for wheat In
Mediterranean countries.
1t is In connection with the most important
topic considered in this volume. namely.
the agricultural industry. thut wo have
noted some slips OF more consequence.
In chapter. for instance. setting forth
the opportunities Of gain presented by dairy
products. tho author omits to mention a fact
which should be weighed in estimating the
relative advantages OF this industry namely
the serious Interference with the buttor mar
creasing fabrication OF olsomargurinc and butt
terine. OF n decidedly moro misleading effect
upon the calculations OF the prospective farmer
are tho estimates given on pages l44 and 153 Of
the proportion OF the wealth OF the country be-
longing to working farmers. After pointing
out that the assessed value of all the real estate
In the country. according to the census Of 1880.
somewhat exceeded thirteen billion dollars.
while tho assessed value OF farms was moro
thnn ten billions. or n per cent. Of tho whole.
Mr. Guernsey assumes that the whole OF the
last named sum shoudbe credited to farmers.
leaving only 23 per cent. TO all other classes.
But the truth 10 that tho census itself. however
incomplete and unsatisfactory are its returns
upon this subject. acknowledges that OF tho
4.O0S.90 farins and plantations recorded in
1880 more than q fourth were cultivated by
tenants paying money or share rents to the
real owners. This would leave less than three
million nominal owners Of farms. and 1t IL
plain that large fraction OF those cannot be
credited with the full assessed value Of their
holdings. IL is known to close observers that
| very common. and perhaps tho most
common sS, non. form OF axrlcuitu ral tenancy i IN
share rent hut q nortsase just R how many M
Of tho ostensiblo ownora are virtually tenants
to the extent Of the mortgages resting on their
in the opinion Of some careful students 81 the;
| subject. 1t does not fall below that Of nvowed
ssar that % as. 81 have as
weighty deductions from the valuation OF farms
| given by the census Ton the score both Of rent
ed and Of mortgaged premisesl before under:
taking to fix the percentage Of the value OF all
the real estate In the country really pertaining
| to working farmers. We should add that another
| statement In the book before us. which credits
| agricuturists with 40 per cent. OF tho personal
| property returned for the whole country in
| qualifications on account OF chattel mortgages
| and advances made by capitalists on live stock
to be delivered; or for the purchase OF machin.
Guernsey. overlooking these Indispensable
| considerations. draws from the face valuation
| Of farms and buildings, live stock and imple-
| ments. tho inferenca TINT farmers in the
| United States are worth 81. 800 each he is set
| ting seductive picture before the emigrant,
| which. We have no doubt will hereafter be ad-
juSted more exactly to the facts. N. ". H.