SPEECH OF HON. JUSTIN S. MORRILL. 119 



done, according- to the statistical information recorded, in the days 

 of King Solomon. 



The loss in the "hog crop," in many of the States is consider- 

 able, and not compensated even by whisky. Six States (Maine, 

 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee and 

 Vermont) produce less corn than they did ten years ago. The 

 old States exhibit little increase of corn — scarcely equalling the 

 marvellous growth of some single new States. 



I have been furnished with the Ohio annual agricultural reports, 

 containing statistical returns of that State — so creditable in matter 

 and form that they deserve to be the model for her sister States — 

 and these corroborate the positions assumed, that is to say, the 

 fact of the increasing unproductiveness of our long cultivated lands. 

 Ohio is a fair State to put on to the witness stand. She is wise, 

 brave and rich enough to court the test, to declare the whole 

 truth, in order to find a cure for any defects in time. This annual 

 self inspection, not less useful to States than to persons, discloses 

 the real deficiencies, and all that is then needed is proper instruc- 

 tion as to the remedy. Ohio is the oldest of the great Western 

 States — large, populous, and neither old and worn out, nor young 

 and undeveloped — the golden link between the old States and the 

 new. Her fate may be anticipated by some, and will be followed, 

 perhaps, with unequal steps, by all the rest. It will not soil a 

 phrase of politicians to say, " as goes Ohio, so goes the Union." 



By the reports referred to, it appears that 81,821 acres more 

 land devoted to the culture in 1858 than in 1850, produced 1,454,- 

 412 bushels less wheat. {Vide Report 1854, p. 542.) The aver- 

 age product is also stated to be 11.35 per acre in 1858, against 

 18.18 in 1850, or a falling of nearly 1.50 bushels per acre. That 

 this is not confined to one season may be seen by taking the whole 

 eight years after 1850 together, and the falling off of four bushels to 

 the acre for the entire crops. This proves the steady and unmitigat- 

 ed decline as to the whole State, whatever particular localities may 

 exhibit, in the capacity of the soil, at the yearly rate of nearly one 

 bushel per acre. The substances necessary to the production of 

 wheat are in the process of being annually exhausted, and they are 

 not returned, though not lost to the world where they go, for we have 

 long fattened British Durhams, according to the magnitude of our ex- 

 ports, and, I regret to say, British hate, by any diminution of our im- 

 ports. It is no answer to say that the profits of the farmer have not 



