91 



Total to December 22, 1857 261, 358 



Do 

 Do 

 Do 

 Do 

 Do 

 Do 

 Do 



do 1856 312,702 



do 1855 328, 885 



do 1854 275, 665 



do 1853 279, 875 



do 1852 332,340 



do 1851 282, 822 



do 1850 265,335 



Chicago is the greatest packing place in the country, and, referring to the 

 state of the trade in provisions at that city, the Chicago Journal of Commerce 

 of December 24 says : " The fact is now quite evident that the hoi;- crop will 

 fall largely short in quality and quantity, and this has stimulated a large specu- 

 lative demand." 



THE UEJREASE OF WHEAT PRODUCTION IN IRELAND. 



The production of wheat in England is as important for the consideration of 

 the American farmer as that of his own country. Hence the following statistics 

 of the wheat crops in Ireland will be read with interest by him. They are 

 furnished the department by John Young, consul at Belfast, Ireland, one of our 

 most intelligent commercial agents, especially fitted for his position by his 

 knowledge of agriculture and by his being a native of Belfast : 



Table skoioing the wheat crops of Ireland. 



Quarters. 



1847 2,926,000 



1849 2, 168,000 



1850 1,550,000 



1851 1,493,000 



1852 1, 154,000 



1853 1,113,000 



1854 1, 452, 000 



1855 1,520,000 



Qmrters. 



1856 1,629,000 



1857 1,662,000 



1858 1,746,000 



1859 1,468,000 



1860 1,271,000 



1861 856,000 



1862 683,000 



Mr. Young remarks thit this decrease is attributable to three causes : 1, 

 the removal of prohibitory duties off the importation of foreign grain ; 2, the 

 decrease of the native population of one-third by emigration to the United 

 States and the British colonies; and 3, the newly inaugurated policy of many 

 land owners in driving off the agricultural laborers and throwing their lands 

 into grazing farms. In proof of the last cause he refers to the fact that in 

 1863 there was an increase of 12,700 cattle under two years old, and of 19,000 

 under one year old. 



FLAX CULTIVATION IN IRELAND— AN AMERICAN PROJECT. 



The cultivation of flax has received much attention in Ireland since the 

 rebellion here has cut off the supplies of cotton. The increase in the acreage 

 of this crop is as follows, as stated by Mr. Young : 



1860 128, 000 acres. 



1861 147,000 acres. 



1862 150, 000 acres. 



1863 213, 000 acres. 



This increase shows that this change in the agricultural productions of Ireland 

 is favorable to the American grain producer. 



