364 NATURAL FAILURE OF STAPLE CROPS. 



oatmeal. But late years have loosened their prejudices 

 very much; and both in Canada and New Brunswick 

 the oat is now becoming an article of extensive consump- 

 tion, even among the inhabitants of French descent. 



The case of Lower Canada illustrateSj in an exagge- 

 rated degree, what I believe is the natural consequence 

 — perhaps we may say the natural sequence of events — 

 in countries where the agricultural practice, for a series 

 of generations, is such as it has hitherto been in North 

 America generally. The staple crops — the supposed staff 

 and agricultural strength of the country — first fall off, and 

 then change ; and with this change the food of the masses, 

 and the relations of the country as a whole with foreign 

 markets, change also. 



This has already been the case in the longer settled 

 portions of the North American continent ; and the same 

 consummation is preparing for the more newly settled 

 parts, unless a change of system take place. The new 

 wheat-exporting — so called — granary districts and States 

 will by-and-by gradually lessen in number and extent, 

 and probably lose altogether the ability to export, unless 

 when unusual harvests occur. And if the population of 

 North America continue to advance at its present rapid 

 rate — especially In the older States of the Union — if large 

 mining and manufacturing populations spring up, the 

 ability to export wheat to Europe will lessen still more 

 rapidly. This diminution may be delayed for a time, by 

 the rapid settling of new western States, which, from their 

 virgin soils, will draw easy returns of grain ; but every 

 step westward adds to the cost of transporting produce 

 to the Atlantic border, while it brings it nearer to that 

 far western California, which, as some predict, will in a 

 few years afford an ample market for all the corn and 

 cattle which the Western States can send it. 



In their relation to English markets, therefore, and the 

 prospects and profits of the British farmer, my persuasion 



