324 PISCATAQUIS CENTRAL SOCIETY. 



Agriculture demands attention, at this time, as one of the most 

 remunerative pursuits in the realm of industry. The statistics of 

 breadstuffs and provisions in the United States and Europe, show 

 that for ten years agriculture has not kept pace Trith the increase of 

 population and the demand for food. 



In the United States, calculating the increase of agricultural 

 produce as it should be, commensurate ^Yith the increase of popula- 

 tion, we find a deficiency as far back as 1850, compared -with that 

 of 1840, of fifteen per cent, in the produce of wheat, thirty-three 

 per cent, in that of potatoes, and ten per cent, in that of cattle. 

 While agriculture has thus been declining, the exportation of bread- 

 stuffs more than doubled from 1840 to 1850, and has nearly doubled 

 in the last seven years. In view of these statistics, we need not 

 wonder at the high prices of bread and provisions. The only won- 

 der is, that they did not go up sooner, and have not reached a higher 

 point. It is difficult to conjecture how much of this deficiency in 

 the supply of food is owing to the disease in the potato, and how 

 inuch to the disproportionate increase of manufactures and commerce. 

 No doubt it is largely to be attributed to the destruction of the 

 potato harvest. 



Many causes might be assigned, and prolific among them is, that 

 reckless haste to be rich which diverts labor from this department of 

 industry into other channels, and that disinclination to work and 

 patiently await the avails of labor, which culminates in speculating 

 manias and financial disasters. 



There is now evidently in this country a large disproportion be- 

 tween labor applied to agriculture and that employed in manufactures 

 and commerce, together with that idly awaiting some lucky turn, 

 some prosperous and happy hit, or the results of some hazardous 

 ventures and bold speculations in the shape of immense fortunes. 



Owing to various causes, there is a fair prospect of large ship- 

 ments of bread to Great Britain, which will materially help the 

 ebipping interests, and the agricultural interests of the western 

 States, and contribute relief to the great industrial interests of the 

 country. Notwithstanding such a decline in prices as will bring 

 bread within reach of the poor, yet with the large foreign demand, 

 agriculture will continue to be a remunerative employment. 



In the present times, though it may not promise large gains, yet 



