LIMIT OF PRODUCTION. 57 



i 



is equal to over three hundred bushels of grain, so far 

 as that capacity is determined by the fertility of the 

 earth. 



If, then, the farmer brings his land to this stand- 

 ard of fertility, complying at the same time with the 

 other requisite conditions, he is entitled theoretically 

 to expect a corresponding result. If he has made 

 sure that his soil contains the constituents of maize 

 in the ratio above given, he has reason to calculate on 

 three hundred bushels per acre ; and if he fails to get 

 that amount, it is not the fault of the soil, but because 

 there is another limit to the yield earlier reached than 

 the limit of fertility. He is barred out by the limit 

 of distances. If he had fertilized his soil to a capa- 

 city of five hundred bushels, yet by the hypothesis 

 above stated, he could only get two hundred and 

 twenty-five bushels, nor even that amount, unless he 

 complied with the conditions on which it depends. 



The only barrier, therefore, of any practical con- 

 sequence to the farmer is that imposed by the law of 

 distances. This limit, being the first that he reaches, 

 renders any others that may lie beyond of little mo- 

 ment. He can raise but so many bushels on an acre 

 as this principle permits ; and how many that may be, 

 experiment alone can determine. It is assumed above 

 to be two hundred and twenty-five bushels, which is 

 doubtless too low. It is extremely probable that the 

 further improvement of existing varieties of corn, and 

 modes of culture, and, still more, the introduction of 

 new varieties, will yet prove that the real limit of pro- 

 duction is in fact much higher. 

 3* 



