1856.] Prices and Profits of Agricultural Products. 117 



even with all the abundance of that most abundant year, still the 

 aggregate of our agricultural productions did not tlun. equalize the ratio 

 between consumption and production. For attesting this, let us look 

 again into our official tables, and we will find that the quantity of vege- 

 table food, which forms the basis of all animal life, has not increased in 

 proportion to the increase of our population. In 1840, our population 

 was 17,069,453; in 1850, it was 23,191,876; the increase of population 

 was, therefore, about 36 per cent. Now, the question resolves itself 

 into this: did our supplies by agricultural production increase in the 

 same ratio, of 36 per cent.? The following table will exhibit the sup- 

 plies produced in 1840 and 1850, with the several rates per cent, of 

 excess and deficiency, as well as the aggregate variation from the stand- 

 ard rate of 36 per cent, of increase: 



1840. 18.50. Increase. Bushels. 



Wheat, bushels, 84,823,272 100,48-5,944 20 per cent. 15,000,000 deficit. 



Corn, " 377,531,875 592,071,104 57 " " 76,000,000 excess. 



Rye, " 18,645,567 14,188,813 (minus quantity) 11,000,000 deficit. 



Oats, '* 123,071,341 146,584,179 20 per cent. 20,600,000 deficit. 



Hay, tons, 10,248,108 13.838,642 36 " " (ratio equal). 



From this it appears, that, so far from increasing in the same ratio 

 with the increase of population, those staple productions, excepting corn, 

 which is in excess, and hay, which is equal, have fallen behind to the 

 aggregate extent of 32 per cent., showing thereby an aggregate doficlennj 

 of 46,000,000 of bushels in our production of wheat, rye, and oats in 

 1850, as compared with 1840. 



Nor could this deficiency in the relative proportion of vegetable food, 

 fail to produce a corresponding diminution in the production of domestic 

 animals. We accordingly find, that, while the ratio of increase in 

 population (as before stated), was 36 per cent, from 1840 to 1850, the 

 relative increase of domestic animals, was as follows : 



Increase of Population, was 36 per cent. 



Then '• Horses, 14 " " 



" Cattle, 23 «' " 



" Sheep, 13 " '« 



" Swine, 15 " " 



These are very instructive facts. They point unequivocally to the 

 principles and causes which have been silently operating to enhance the 

 market prices of all the staple productions of agriculture to a rate 

 unprecedented in the history of the country. 



But, it may be suggested that this is all very well — that, inasmuch 

 as high prices accrue to the benefit of the farmer, this state of things is 

 rather to be desired than otherwise. And certainly no one can fault the 



