27 



ferred with it. There were but 106,891 proprietors of serfs, so that there 

 were 211 serfs to each one of therii. Progress in agriculture might as readily 

 be found among the slaves of the south as among a people thus held in 

 bondage. But about two years ago the present Emperor of Russia abolished 

 serfdom, and gave power to the freed serfs to purchase and hold lands. The 

 progress now making in Russian towns in the establishment of schools 

 points to the coming changes in agriculture. And receLtly he has abolished 

 it in the Polish provinces. On the 15th of April every peasant in them was 

 not only freed, but made the owner of all lands, and buildings thereon, 

 which he cultivated. 



With these recently awakened motives to agricultural improvement, the 

 vast and productive plains of southern Russia and the Polish provinces must 

 commence that progress alluded to by the 3Iark Lane Exprei^s, by the intro- 

 duction of improved common ploughs, harrows, and drills; of the steam 

 plough, the reaper, and the thresher; and by the gradual making of rail- 

 roads, for in these plains there are no obstructions to render them costly. 

 Doubtless it will be many years before this improvement can materially 

 affect our exports of wheat to England, for, as stated in the last report, with 

 regard to cotton, it is not production alone that gives a nation a foreign 

 market, but its own ability to consume what that market may have to offer 

 in payment. So long as the United States are superior as a consumer, it 

 can regulate the conditions of mutual trade. But still Russian consumption, 

 too, will increase with its progress in agriculture; and even as it now is, 

 the tables of English imports of wheat show how great is the amount of 

 wheat Russia, directly and indirectly, sends to Great Britain. Political 

 convulsions may retard Russian progress, and general European wars may 

 continue our supremacj'', but an expectation of these should not divert our 

 minds from the development of that market which is our best and most 

 reliable one — the home market. 



IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 



If statiatics ever taught a truth that patriotism demands shotild be heeded, it 

 is those we here present on the imports and exports of the country at New 

 York, since January 1, 1864. 



IMPORTS OF FOREIGN DRY GOODS AT NEW YORK FOR THREE MONTHS FROM 



JANUARY 1. 



