The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-16
Progress OF Our Agriculture,
1S70.1SS0.

On1O, we make tne IOllOWlnR exUracUsj
showing the wonderful progress and profits
of American agriculture during the last
decade:
Every citizen of this country has a
vague and general impression that the
United States is large exporter of food
products but there are comparatively
few who have informed themselves of the
actual relation which our agriculture bears
to our foreign commerce. To many read
ers the statement will be new and sur
prising one, that more than seventy-fve
per cent of our exports to foreign coun-
tries-in 1882 value of $552,216 511
out of 1913 239, 732-is made up of sgri-
cultural products. So gigantic factor
is this in the problem of our national
maintenance and upbuilding, that it would
seem that whatever seriously affects it
must be vital to our welfare, one way or
the other.
AS an indication of the growth of our
agriculture, we may fairly take the pro-
duction, from 1878 to 1880, of three lead.
ing crops of the country, wheat, corn and
oats. 1t will be seen from official tables,
that prior to 1878 the wheat crop of the
United States had fallen from 260 1469 900
bushels in 1869, to 249 ,997 100 bushels in
1872, the two intervening years showing
still smaller product. In 1878, the crop
rose to 2S1 ,254,700 bushels, and increased
at the average rate of more than 25 000,-
900 bushels yearly, until in 1880 it reached
459, 479 ,505 bushels. OF corn, the largest
crop ever known up to 1873 was that of
1870, which reached l ,094, 255 900 bushels.
The years 1873 and 1874 we're unfavorable
to this cereal; but in 1875 the harvest
was 1921 ,069, 900 bushels, and in 1880
the magnificent yield of 1,754,861 ,535
bushels was recorded. The average annual
yield for the six years beginning with
1875 and ending with 1880 was 1,439,-
739 429 bushels. OF oats, the crop in
creased from 27O 900, 900 bushels in 1873,
to 407 100000 in 1880, and the average
annual yield for the period including both
those years was BAT 100000 bushels. The
comparison might be carried into many
other branches of agriculture with equally
striking results, but the instances thus
given fairly exemplify the state of that
industry and its astonishing growth DUR
ing the years succeeding the panic.
AT the very time when the crops OF the
American farmer were OVERT owing his
graparies, and taxing the full capacity of
the railway lines for their transportation
to the seaboard, English agriculture was
enduring series of disastrous years
which will long remain one of the gloom
lest chapters in its history. So great was
the depression in that industry, that it
was made the subject of long and search
ing investigation by royal commission.
Many witnesses were examined by this
commission, and their testimony is volum-
inous and covers wide range of topics
but on one point there is uniform agree
ment, namely, that the years 1878, 1875,
1876, 1877 and 1879 were exceedingly bad
years for the English farmer. The wit
ness whose evidence on this subject was
most explicit was Sir James Card, an
acute observer and recognized authority
on economical questions. By his showing,
the deficiency in the annual crop of wheat
in England for the five years above-named
was greater than for any like period, even
the worst, Of which a record has been
preserved.
In the case of France the record is not
80 unfavorable, but here also marked
deficiency is shown for the period begin
ming with 1875 and closing with 1880
Within that time the smallest wheat crop
that of 1S79-was gathered which had
been known for eighteen years, with. the
sole exception of the calamitous season Of
1871. The average annual yield from
1875 to 1880 was, in round numbers, 270,
100000 bushels while for the three years
immediately preceding, it had been 318,
100000 bushels, and for period of fiji
teen years, reaching back to 1860, abou
2S3,000,000 bushels per annum. In France
therefore, during the years of unexam
, pied productiveness in America, there wa
a deficiency of 35,000,000 bushels in thu
, annual wheat crop as compared with tn
three years next preceding.
The statistics of the export of breadstuff
+ from this country for the period in ques
Y ton prove that the natural consequence
of full harvests at home and scarcit,
abroad were speedily revealed. In 1879
the export of wheat from the Unite'
8 States was 80, 204 900 bushels, valued a
a $5l, 452, 900; in 1880 it had risen to 1853
J.. $4,000 bushels, valued at $780, SAC 00C
:, In the same period, the export of whea
4 -four rose from 1862 900 barrels in 1879
8 valued at $40, 3S2, 900, to COLL 900 barrel
= in 1880, valued at 35,333,000. Of In
dian corn, the exports, prior to 1872 ha,
never reached a yearly total of 20,000,00
bushels, and in 1870 had fallen as low a
1892, 900 bushels. In 1876, they ha
q risen to 49, 493 $40 bushels, and the in
|. crease was steadily maintained from yea
4 to year, until in 1880 the total was 9S
: 10000 bushels.
. To show the uniformity with whic
d this increasing tendency prevailed in a.
|. varieties of food products, it is wort
.. while to note the figures of some othe
:. articles. The export of pork in 1875 wa
:. 5S 27S, 1852 pounds; in 1880 it was 80
vt 979,543 pounds, having steadily il
70 creased at the average yearly rate c
o about 100000 pounds. OF sailed bee
= in 1875 the export was SO, 036, 537 pounds
y in 1880, it was 46,2l1,471 pounds. q
a Land, in 1876 1853. 696, 500 pounds in 1885,
414,8Sl, 1896 pounds. OF bacon and ham
in 1875, 2S2 394,772 pounds; in 1885,
} SlS,137, l43 pounds. 1t is not necessar
,s to multiply examples; enough have bee
4 given to show how all branches of the az
= ricultural industry of our country wei
10 quickened during the years succeedin
y the panic, and in what extraordinary vo
g. ume the fruits of our soil were poure
4. into the markets of Europe, where cage
II purchasers were waiting to receive them.
~ One more cOmparisOu however we ma