The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-26
Our Grain Exports.

The report OF the Department Of Agri-
culture. issued on March 10. shows the
amount OF grain remaining upon the farms
on March /. It affords remarkable conflrma-
ton OF the views we recently expressed In
relation to the gradual diminution OF the
country's power to export grain. and espe-
cially corn. In either a primary or n second
airy form. and also in regard to the proba-
bility that such expectation will cease at
no remote day.
On the 1st OF March. 1892 farm granaries
were said to contain S6O. 0O0. 900 bushels of
corn. Since that time two crops have been
harvested from a total OF l42. GOO. 900 acres.
giving an aggregate yield OF 3.24s. 900, 900
bushels: yet on the first Of this month
stocks in farmers hands had been reduced
TO 800. O0O. 900 bushels. This shows that the
consumption OF the last two years has ex-
ceeded production to the amount OF no.
100000 bushels. Notwithstanding that dur
ing each OF these years the pigs fed have
numbered about 5000. 900 less than the aver
age number fed during the four preceding
years. and that during the last two years
at least 25,0Oo.O00 bushels more OF wheat
have been used for feed than In any two
previous years.
Despite the augmentation OF the supply
available. from two harvests only per cent.
below the average in acreage yield. by the
addition OF 27O.OO0.OOO bushels Of old corn,
and the feeding OF $4,000. 900 bushels OF
wheat the exports OF pork. ham. lard. and
bacon were in 1898 about 80 per cent below
those OF 1891. and the exports of swine prod
ucts in 1894 promise to DO nearly as far
below those OF 1891 This shrinkage OF the
volume OF aggregate value differ
ing but little-is due in part TO the increase
OF domestic requirements for swine prod
uets. but more largely to the smaller num-
Der OF pigs fed; and this decrease OF the
herds is directly related to the relative
supply Of corn.
While the corn consumed since March,
1892. In excess OF the quantity harvested,
added to the wheat fed. represents average
yields OF corn from 100000 acres. this
does not indicate the whole deficit OF the
corn area. The decrease OF 100000 In the
number OF hogs fed yearly. represents an
annual reduction OF something more than
i9OOOO,OOO bushels in the corn consumed in
pork production. or the equivalent Of the
product. annually. Of 5000. 900 average acres.
Hence 1t appears that to be able 10 export
corn In primary and secondary forms in
the same proportion 10 that consumed in
the same forms at home as during the four
years ending with 1892. at least II 100000
acres must at once be added to the area
now available in existing corn fields, and
100000 acres must be added annually 10
meet the requirements OF each years addi-
tion TO the domestic population and 10
maintain the ratio OF exports.
WHARF aau Ia found fha
bearing lands
AS the necessary annual additions 10 the
hay acreage absorb much more land than
Is now being brought newly under cultiva-
ton, IL follows that We can grow the re-
quired corn only by making enormous
drafts upon the wheat and cotton fields
To do that will lessen the exports OF wheat
and cotton IN the measure Of average acre