The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-14

G. Wood Davis contributes q paper 70
the November Forum or the probabilities
OF Agriculture" which is mainly an an
swer to . contribution from the pen Of
Prince Kroposkin In the August number
Of the same magaSine, on the Possibilities
Of Agriculture" Both are discussions OF
the prospect thst the worlds increase Of
popuIa ion may excesd the possibilities Of
PRODUCING food supply sufficient for Its
maintenance.
On this point Professor Davis properly
holds that mankind Is more interested in
the probabilities than in the possibilities Of
agriculture. Ard Is pertinent o that qaes-
ton he very properly rejects Kropotkin's
citations Of results obtained under glass or
as . result Of extraordinary and neces-
sariiy limited advantages in obtaining fer
tilizers for market gardens near great
ciiIes. But while Kropotkin's conclusions
were. Is has been claimed in these col
umns, wildly optimistic, those Of Professor
Davis are perhaps open TO . suspicion Of
extreme pessimism.
His view Is broader than Kropo kin's,
and his reasoning 10 better fortified by gen.
erai facts and statistics. On one point he
seems firmly convinced, and repeatedly re-
iterates II. that the time cannot be distant
when the United States must cease TO be
an exporter Of cereals. In this connection
he shows that the area in wheat in this
country-thirty-eight million acres--is no
greater in 1890 than it was in 1880. the
opening up Of new lands having been fully
offsetted Nv the appropriation OF old wheat
lands to purposes OF pasturage, dalrying.
fruit-growing. etc. In India. on the other
hand, the diversion to cotson-growing and
O. her uses has resulted In diminution,
within the last decade, Of fully one million
in the number OF acres devoted to wheat
culture.
Taking the world as . whole, he finds
that the wheat area within the decade ha-
increased by five and a half miiion acres,
representing an increase Of sixty.seven
million bushels in the annual output,
whie the requirements incident to IN.
crease of population have called for an in-
crease of two hundred million bushels. In
Europe within the past twenty years. de-
spite an enormous emigration to other
countries, there has been an increase OF
forty-five million in population with no
appreciable increase in food production.
That division OF the earth, with three hum
dred aud hfsy million of population. being
forced 10 draw upon Asia. Africa, America
and Australasia for 6 large share OF its
food supply. where viii il obtain this when
that population has been multiplied. anu
some or all Of those coun ries reqare all If
their own pro,inct for home consumption
This makes the matter appear quite seFi-
Gus. But little reflection will demons
sirate that the gloomy picture il ever
drawn. rhe areas ia the United States
that are devoted 10 tue growth vi cereals
bear but am insignificant reiaslon 10 the
areas susceptible - such use, ana which
wonld be devoted thereto under the stress
OF necessity or IN resp Use 10 greatly aug.
mented demand. II an emergency, be-
yond donot. the Unite. ates could at
reasonable figures prs4acs ali and more
than the worlds entire present supply OF
cereals. Careful sratisiicians hav. esti-
mated that the araole lands OF Texas alone,
II ali cultivated as thoroughly ss ara me
best of them, wonid be sqaal 10 the supply
Of the worlds present demands.
Nevertheless, all lands are not as wen
cultivated and do mol Isli equal to the
best Texas or Eastern Washing on lands $.
nor are they ikeiy to untu the stress OF ne
cessity compels. anu Davis review gives
convincing assurance that the day is oy
no means distant whea the farmer must
become very independent and very
important fsc,or ii, b. mar affairs.