New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-06
lch decade from Lao 10 1880 is as follows:

1t appears therefore, that at present the average
annual Increase in population Is from two and half
to three per cent. We have not during the century
the statistics which will enable to determine the
Increase in the agricultural products Of the United
States but we have certain other statistics OF great
weight In the matter OF production and consumption
From 1890 TO 1850 the population OF this country
had increased thrtecnfod but during this same period
the number of those living in cities and towns had
increased eigly,sxfod and the census OF 1o0o, who
indicating the last ten years an increase In popu
laton Of about tweny-sx per cent, showed that the
population of the largest fifty cities Increased over
fortyseven per cent, from which 1t clearly appears
that the consumers OF agricultural products are In
creasng relatively far more rapidly than the pro
ducers.
But I'M reference to the actual increase in agr-
cultural products the statistics gathered during the
last quarter of century by the Bureau and Depart
ment Of Agriculture furnish us the necessary data
we take the period from 1866 to 1850 Inclusive ana
divide il into three periods Of seven years each, VIC
find that during the second period Of seven Years the
acreage under cultivation in the United states mad IN
creased thirtyve per cent over that under cultivation
during the first period and that the increase III inc
total OF agricultural products during tile second peloa
was about tho same, though very appreciably less,
viz thirty-three per cent. During the third period
OF seven years the increase in acreage under culva
ton was fory-fve per cent over what 1t was during
the second seven-year period but the increase In the
agricultural products was much less, being an increase
during the third period Of only thrtyfve per cent OF
what it was during the second PERIOD and TINS fallns
in the productive capacity OF the soil Of nearly eight
per cent must have arisen from paluaI eX-
haustion Of the arabic lands Of the country, OF
less in cultivation, owing 70 the ,., low
prices prevailing for agricultural products. Nhie'
therefore. this annual increase In the prouuc
ton of agricultural products is at present per cent
and the annual increase In population Is from = IL
TO 3 per cent the relative increase OF consumers IS
much greater that, as has been pointed OUT Dy ue
- tna napa me- n
present excess of these products for exploration
amounts only 10 per cent OF The total production
OF the country or, We eAclGdc cOIoh Su uoodc0o'
But there are several other indications that we are
rapidly approaching the limits OF production IN tho
country until higher prices shall stimulate to better
methods than those ut present employed In the cuTa
ton OF farming lands. Among these Indications Is
OF interest observe that while the number OF farms
in the United States increased DO per cent from looo
10 IssO the average number OF acres In each farm
diminished during this period 80 per cent; also
that during this period of twenty years, while the
cent, the improved land in farms Increased 20 per
cent 1870 =, A.,
principal farm crops increased 35,341 III; from 1873
to 1883, 43,3S6501, and from 1888 to 1883 only
81 ,351 $50. . ,,,, A.,
lands capable OF cultivation under present. conditions
in the United States already mainly taken up, ana
the recent rush to possess Oklahoma as also the pro
posed schemes for reclamlng barren lands by means
OF irrigation, point I'm the same direction. .
While, therefore, there can be 10 reasonable donbt
that the general adoption Of better methods would
result in doubling the aggregate yield OF our agrl-
cultural products such result will not long be de-
lsyed when the present narrow margin wmch sepS
rates consumption from production shall have dlsar
pearcd and with an Increasing demand higher prices
Shall both stimulate and enable the farmer to In
crease the products from his fields and herds
United States Agricultural Experiment station,
Geneva, March IS, 1891.