Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-05-16
Hope for the Farmer.

The irSt bright ray that has appeared in
the farmers dark sky Is east by an admiTa-
BILE article bv {. wood Davis in the cur
rent number OF the Forum. In former
article 1t was shown that the absence Of
prosperity among farmers is largely due to
excessive production OF nearly all iarm
products" Therefore, the needed relief
must be found IN the operation Of such
natural agencies as viii bring about a re
adjustment between population and pro-
duction"
Mr.. Woods article Is written to show
that such agencies exist and are at work.
They are: a constant ratio OF increase in
population aud decreasing ratio OF in
crease in the acreage devoted to farm pro
duets. During the last five years popula-
tion has increased 137 per cent, the area
in corn 1873 that in oats 70, cattle 20, aud
swine IA, with a decrease of "a iu the
wheat area.
But if longer period OF years he taken,
the significance of these figures becomes
more apparent. From 1874 to 1879 the in
crease in corn acreage was 81 per cent;
1879 to 1854, II. : per cent, and from 1854
to 1889, Il per cent. During the last
| three years, however, heincrease has only
been II per cent per annum. From 1875
to 1880 the increase in the acreage of
wheat was Al per cent; from 1880 to 1854,
SO per cent; while from 1854 to 1889 there
was decrease of 3 / per cent From 1850
to 1885 the increase in the number of cat
tie was 30.l per cent, while from 1885 to
1889 it was only 164 per cent, but most of
this increase was in the first two years of
the four, the rate of increase in the last
two years being but "A per cent per annnm,
the first time in many years when the rate
of increase was lower than that shown by
population. These exhibits show that
corn growing and cattle raising are appar-
emily nearing their limit and that that OF
wheat growing has already been passed
The changes that are taking place may
| be better understood by an examination of
the area in all staple crops, and, separate
ly, the acreage in corn, wheat, oats and
hay in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois
and Wisconsin in 1880 and in 1887 Dur
| ing that period the increase in the total
acreage of all crops was 109 per cent; in
that of oats, sc 9 per cent, and in that of
hay 90 per cent, while the decrease in that
of corn was l5.9 per cent and Of wheat Il. 4
per cent Or, to give the figures, IN the
seven years 2,755,O0O acres of the corn
fields and 2,296, 240 acres OF the wheat
fields of the States named were converted
into meadows as were 592, ,O65 acres of the
new land brought into cultivation"
Existing data" says Mr.. Wood, ''show
that to supply home requirements and ex-
port the same proportions of tobacco,
cotton and animal products as now, there
should be for each unit of population 3. 10
acres per capita. During the fourteen
years prior to 1885, the increase in cult
waited area was so great that, after assign
ing the required 3. 10 acres TO each unit OF
population, there remained a surplus OF
20, 24S, 900 acres which was employed in
growing products to glut home and foreign
markets Fortunately the arabic lands to
be occupied had become so very limited
that the additions to tue area in cultiva-
ton, during the next four years, were re-
duced to a yearly average of 1900, 62O
acres, as against s, lS3, ,6S5 in the ten pre-
ceding years. the result being To diminish
the acreage in excess of home needs from
20, 24S, 900 acres to II, SIS, 900 at the end
of 1883; and decrease of such additions OF
new lands being probable, it is entirely
safe to estimate that such additions will
not, from 1855 to 1894, exceed yearly
average of 100000 acres, while popula-
ton will augment at rate of not less than
81 per cent per annum. This will, at the
end of 1894, leave but three acres per
capita to furnish so much of the agricul-
tural staple as we may then use or ex-
port"
These facts and figures, and they seem
incontrovertible, open up before the farmer
an unlimited era of prosperity. WaShing-
ton, Pa, Observer.