Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-05-31


States Department of Agriculture
cereals, potatoes, hay, tobacco and
cotton-was, in round numbers, S5,~
100000 acres, being 2.39 acres for
each unit of population, of which
0.S7 of an acre per capita was in corn;
0.43 of an acre in wheat and 0.99 of
an acre in staples other than corn and
wheat. AT this time our exports of
wheat were very small, home needs
absorbing nearly all our product at
high prices.
Five years later (lS71) the area in
all staples had increased to 93,O0O,-
600 acres, the per capita quota being
2.35 acres, of which 0.S6 of an acre
was in corn, 0.5O of an acre in wheat,
and 0.99 of an acre in the other sta
Piles.
In 1875 we find total of 113,00O,-
900 acres employed in growing the
ten staple crops, being equal to 2.65
acres per capita; the corn area alb
sorbing 0.95 of an acre per capita ;
that of wheat, 0.59 of an acre, while
the other staples occupied an area
equal to Ill acres per capita.
BY 1879 the cultivated area in all
staples had increased so enormously
as to show an aggregate of 161, 100000
acres, the per capita allowance being
3.29 acres, of which LIS acres was
appropriated to the growth of corn,
O.72 of an acre to the growth Of
wheat, and 1.29 acres to the other
staples.
Coming in our homeward journey
to the year 1884 the rapid and unex-
ampled expansion in area results in a
total of 165,0O0,0OO acres under sta
pie crops, being no less than 3.51
acres per capita-an increase since
1856 of 81 per cent. in the per capita
quota-of this 1851 acres in staple
crops for each unit Of the population,
1.2j acres was employed in the pro-
duction of corn, OIL of an acre in the
propuctiOn of wheat, and 1.5j acres
growing staples other than corn and
wheat.
This was the end of that period of
excessive expansion in cultivated
area which increased the area per cap
tia more than half, and has since, by
an accumulating surplus, had sucn a
disastrous effect on prices and is the
turning point on the road that was
so surely leading to agricultural il
not national bankruptcy.
Fortunately, by this time, part Of
, the public domain from which fertile
farms had been so freely carved fol
each of the land hungry horde flock
, ing to our shores, had become practi
, cally exhausted, as is shown in the
; rapidly diminishing quantity of new
acres being yearly added to the cul
f tivated area, such annual additions
from 1884 to 1889 averaging less thar
9,5OO,000 acres in the five years end
G ing in 1879, which is seen to b,
more than three times the average Of
y recent years, although the population
' to be supplied has, in the meantime
+ increased many millions.
y In 1889 the area in staple crop
: was, approximately, 100000
= acres, giving but $3.50 acres per capit
Y as against the 3.51 acres of five year
q before. OF this $50 corn took IL
acres, wheat O.6O of an acre, and 9th
q er staples 1.47 acres per capita.
s From this showing it is eviden
}. that we are, if somewhat slowly an,
4 YEARLY, yet steadily, retracing tn
e way to an assured era of agriculture
Il prosperity, and that in our haste t
e develop the new and fertile West W
It so increased the ratio of productio
(population) as inevitably to cause
;S state of agricultural plethora tina
- has, in its turn, been the controlin
" power in bringing prices, both i
: Europe and America, to the preser
, unremunerative level.
~ Up to 1875 we find that one acre {
=, less of corn per capita was quite suff
10 Gent to meet all demands and tn
# price give years average), in tn
~ farmers local markets, was 81 cent
70 In 1879 the per capita area had rise
n to l.2S acres, and is now at 1.23 acre
= per capita, but such has been tn
IS effect of an accommodating surplus an
d the enormous crops of 1889, thi
the price is now the lowest evt
j. known.
p Although one acre of corn per cap
I'd ia suficed up to 1875, yet we no
Y. consume more than then in the maj