OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



321 



An average quantity planted does not necessarily yield an average 

 supply. Experience shows, that although an average quantity is sown, 

 yet from the effect of drought in seed-time, of rains in harvest, and 

 the grubs, and worms, and Hessian flies, the crop will fall below the 

 average ; whereas, with favoring sunshine and showers, in other years, 

 the product will be beyond the average. If the demand is for food 

 only, so that an average crop is necessary to supply the average de- 

 mand, in case of a short supply, the people will feel the ill effects in 

 scarcity and high prices ; and in case of an abundant harvest, the 

 supply exceeding the demand, the farmer feels the ill effects in re- 

 duced prices. And if grain does not, on an average, yield a remuner- 

 ating price, the tendency is to discourage production and cause scar- 

 city. But where there is a steady demand for a supply beyond what 

 is necessary for food, and a quantity is produced in average years to 

 meet that supply, even in case of short crops, there is corn enough in 

 Ihe country to supply the country with food, the shortness of the crop 

 will be felt in the increased price, it will be used more economically, 

 both for food and for distillation, and no desolating scarcity will be 

 perceived. So, in a year of production considerably beyond the aver- 

 age of years, the effect will be felt in some reduction of price, affecting 

 the whole product ; the distiller of burning-fluid, finding the price low, 

 knowing that there will be a demand for his alcohol, which may be 

 perfectly preserved without loss, except the slight one of interest, is 

 induced to come into the market and purchase freely, thus maintaining 

 and equalizing prices, to the benefit both of farmer and consumer, and 

 causing the superabundant product of one year to supply the defi- 

 ciencies of another. 



" In looking at the magnitude of this interest to the whole country, 

 and for future time, in an industrial and economical point of view, 

 I am unwilling to give up the hope of deriving the artificial light of 

 the country from this source, until the resources of science and skill 

 have been exhausted in vain in finding means to keep and use it with 

 safety. If, with all reasonable precautions, it cannot be used without 

 danger to life, in the name of humanity let it be abandoned. But all 

 useful agents are attended with some danger. A common lamp or 

 candle may set fire to a dress or a curtain and destroy a life or a 

 dwelling. All that can be hoped is to produce an article which, with 

 reasonable care and prudence, and knowledge of its qualities, may 

 be used with reasonable safety. 



VOL. II. 41 



