Milford chronicle., 1885-02-20

/
be discussed by the press and tn,
people, for there is need for improve
ment.
-=--al--s -s-aa--
THERE is a great cry amoncg would
be political economists thS.t we ar
over-producing, and especially ar
they certain that we produce to,
much wheat, The Increase of whea
in the last thirty-f'ge years has beer
remarkable. Drring that period tn,
wheat production has increased /!
per cent on the Atlantic coast, 45l
per cent in the Central States, anC
almost $500 per cent in the TegioI
beyond the Mississippi. This in
crease is out of all proportion to the
increase in population. The pro
ductiOn per capita in lS49, was 4.3s
bushels; in 1859, 55 bushels; in 1865
7.2S bushels; in 1879, 90 bushels
and in 1884, nearly 8 bushels. This
certainly looks like over-production,
and if home consumption was our
only way to dispose of our wheat,
Over-prOduction would have forced
us to lessen our production some
years ago. But during this time we
have developed a large export trade.
The total amount of wheat exported
IN all forms in 1859, was 1895, $50
bushels; in 1861 it jumped to
5O,G94 ,959 bushels; and by 1882 to
l2I 1872 ,389 bushels. 1t will be seen
that while production has outstrip-
ped population, expectation has
many times outstripped production.
Another circumstance which has
reduced our surplus is the larger
consumption per capita. Wheat
bread is one of those things which
have been transformed from semi
luxuries into every day comforts.
As a result of the effects Of these
causes, We find that rs the produc-
tion of wheat has increased, the de
mand for it has kept pace. and.
instead of our wheat accommodating
in our granaries year after year,
until we are compelled to pull them
down and build greater, each crop
year has closed with a small surplus
on hand, varying slightly in accord
ance with the differing circumstances
Of each year Therefore, the low
price of wheat is not due to over
but to other causes.
Farmers are holding their wheat
because the price is low, not because
they cannot sell it; and the causes
which have produced low prices have
affected the demand .opIy--es they
have produced s. l1essened consump-
iGn IN some quarters incident to
lard times; as times improve, we
nay look for improvement in price. !
But while over-production of
wheat does not exist in fact. the pro-
luction of other crops may not |
each so near to the limits of de
nand, and the question for the /
armer to study is, for which of the |
'rops my land is capable Of produc-
no does there exist the greatest de- /
nand, for that is the crop there viii |
,e the most ready sale for at the /
highest price. The low price of
crain bears most heavily on the /
farmer, who, following the |
Of his fathers, puts the same |
and in wheat OF corn, without re
ard to demand or price; while his
neighbor, seeing that
Wheat is low, and fruit and vegeta-
les high, reduces his acreage of
hat grain, and sets out n peach
richard or other fruits; or puts out
ISL patches Of cabbage, turnips or
RACES IN '',- for wlSch there is a de-
The police have asto
church at Jacobstadt, Russlomand and
by dynamite, and not burned, as -
ported. IL Is
Turkey demands the withdrawllrket
Italian troops from the Red Sea. and
Tho Prince of Wales had a Maroon mn
in raiway collision while on his ~ IA
Paris 20 Canues.
oo,.A admiral Cqurbet telegTapAS 'nlfsI be
fgI up through the year; it will not
10 to glance ut the market report
rhen you have crop to sell; at that
ime they are full of reports pur-
,osely calculated to deceive. But
through the medium of a good agri-
ultural weekly gain your informa-
ion from well-informed, disinterest-
d sources, and when the time comes
-ou will be able to act with intel
Igence.