The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-05

then reached high-wster mark. declining
to 10 per cent. in the next Ave years, TO
fall TO 1853 per cent. In the period ending
with 1889.
During the last three years the proper
ton Of fields employed in producing food
and fibre for expectation appears to have
increased more than it declined In the pre-
cedng 1--WE years. This increase is appar-
ent rather than real. and arises from the
fact that the production Of wheat In 1891
and 1899, in excess Of average yields. was
equivalent to the product OF some 9i,OOoOOo
acres, and the excess of cotton produced by
the great acreage yields Of 1890 and 1891 was
equivalent to the average product OF more
than 5000, 900 acres. But for these eXtraor-
binary yields. there Is little doubt that the
exports Of cotton would have shown but
moderate increase. while those OF wheat
would. for the last three years. have
ehrunken In the measure OF the require
ments OF the added population. and the
proportion OF all crops exported would not
have exceeded 10 per cent. and might have
fallen as low as IL per cent. OF the product
Of the area devoted to staple crops.
Exports Of wheat annually represented
larger acreage from 1880 to 1884 than In any
subsequent period. although the bushels ex-
ported in the last three years exceeded the
average Of the earlier period.
Exports OF corn as grain reached the maxi
mum. both as regards volume and the per-
centage OF the crop area, In the period end
ing fourteen years ago. and there Is every
probability that exports Of this cereal In the
primary form will rapidly diminish: for the
e., TO- 40 IL
tlon have. since 1880. equalled the average
product Of one acre and one-tenth annually
for each unit Of the population. Therefore
the present corn acreage-which is equiva-
lent to but one acre and -hundredths
per capitals. Nth acreage yields. unequal
to the production OF the quantity required
for home use at the rate at which corn has
been consumed during the last thirteen
years; and hence It will be absolutely neces-
sary to increase greatly the yield an
acre: to lower the standard OF liv-
ing. or to add annually 100000 acres
to the corn fields to meet domestic
requirements alone. To supply home de-
mands for corn In primary and secondary
forms. and to send abroad meats and other
secondary products Of corn In as great pro-
portion as since 1880. It will be necessary
to add 100000 acres yearly to the area
employed In growing maize. Instead of
adding to the area. It has shrunken greatly
since 1889. although in the mean tine more
than 1900. 900 acres Of the cotton fields have
been converted into corn-bearing lands;
and yet the deficit caused by diverting
Northern corn fields to meadows. pastures.
and oat fields to meet the ever-increasing
requirements OF the towns for forage
meats. and dairy products has not been
made good. 1t Is obvious that less can be
sent abroad II domestic consumption shall
continue to equal the product Of one acre
and tenth for each individual.
Owing to exceptional yields from great
areas In 1890 and 1891. the production Of cot
ton has recently been Improbable. and some
100000 acres Of cotton lands have been en-
ployed in the production Of the corn con-
sumed at the South. Yet should successive
seasons give yields no greater than the av-
erage Of the ten crops preceding 1890. 1t will
soon be necessary to restore to cotton pro-
duction all the acres diverted to other
products. The worlds requirements for
American cotton now exceed an average
yield from more acres than were ever de-
voted to the crop.
Europe's population has increased less
than per cent in the last five years. yet
the European consumption OF cotton has
augmented by more than 16 per cent.
and America furnishes greater proportion
than before. Probably the rate at which
European consumption increases will not
be so great when the price shall have i'd
vanced materially. but the worlds demand
for American cotton Is likely to increase
,,ft O., IL o..
fields to expand. This Is especially true in
view OF the necessity which will impel the
employment OF all added acres in providing
the food, forage. and fibre required by ad-
ditions to the domestic population.
The exports OF hay in primary form
have always been meagre. averaging less
than the product Of 1900 acres per annum
during the last twenty years. But the
export OF this staple In the secondary form
OF animals and animal products is OF great
magnitude. For the last ten years It has
employed an area half as great as that
devoted to the grain exported In primary
form and as flour. Within four years the
exports OF hay In secondary form have
increased so per cent as a result OF the
growth OF the trade in live cattle, although
this traffic has shrunken a third since
January. 1893.
The dependence OF the traffic in animal
products. and especially all forms OF pork.
upon an abundant supply OF corn. is shown
by the fact that following the short corn
crop OF 1881 the expectation Of animal
products declined 40 per cent. and the
aggregate sent abroad In each of the two
years preceding this crop failure was not
again reached until after the harvesting OF
the crops Of 1888 and 1899. The expectation
OF such products has fallen of 25 per cent.
In the calendar year Just closed. as a result