Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-05-31
STANDARD MEANWHILE TENNESSEE sATURDAYMAY a. 1900

capita area had risen to 0.72 of an
acre, and the price wholly dependent
upon the necessity of finding an out
side market for a greater surplus.
During the next five years the per
capita quota remained about as in 70,
the expectation being the greatest
in our history and the prices drop
ping to the lowest point known since
the close of the civil war.
Since 1884 the area per capita has
fallen off one-sixth and has, in these
five years travelled very nearly half
way back to where home demand
will absorb the entire product of this
grain, domestic consumption per cap
ita is about 10 per cent. greater than
prior to 1875, and requires O.47 of an
acre to supply the needs of each unit
of the population. Since 1884 the
total area of our wheat fields has de-
creased ga per cent, and it seems
likely that such decrease will con-
tinue until much higher prices are an
incentive to increased planting.
Should such be the course of wheat
production it follows that domestic
consumption will shortly require our
entire product.
Add five years. increase in popula-
ton and deduct another "a per cent.
from the wheat area, and we shall
have covered the whole road and
cease exporting wheat. The increase
in population is as certain as the
flight OF time, and further decrease
in the wheat area is altogether prob.
able.
Another gratifying feature of this
exhibition the farmers stand
points our shown capacity to dis
pose Of so much of the staples, Other
than corn and wheat, without Great
ing a surplus wholly unmanageable
This doubtless arises in part from thu
increasing requirements at home anC
abroad for the product Of the cottor
fields, and the ever-increasing guam
titles of oats, potatoes and hay requir
ed by an urban population now in
creasing, and likely to increase, in {
mach greater ratio than does that EN-
ployed in agriculture-all of which
tends to early equillibration between
production and home consumption.
All obtainable data 60 to SHOW
that we may safely continne to EN-
ploy about one acre and half in tn
growth of staples other than corr
and wheat, making, at the presen
rate of consumption by our people
and prOportionate export of tobacco
cotton, animals and animal products
: the requirements for all staple crop
to be 3.l5 acres for each unit of popu
lation. Knowing approximately
: the rate at which population and Gu
: tivated area increase, as well as tn
5 amount of land now employed i
l the production of staple crops, it
quite as easy to determine the durf
e ton of this period of depressio
as it has been to show that sue
4 depression is the direct an
;, unavoida Bile result of a to
rapid increase in a cultivate
s area, which is now greatly in exceI
0 Of current requirements. Until sue
a requirements shall have absorbed ii
S accumulated surplus of farm pr,
3 ducts, las well as current production,
: would appear that very moderat
crops are much more desirab
It than large ones.
d When this surplus has been absorI
e ed, we may not only dispose of lars
Il crops, but fix the price for our pr
o ducts without first consulting Il
e Chicago Board of Trade or the me
n chants of Liverpool.
a G. WOOD DAVIS.