198 Progress of Population and Wealth 



in the Western States is eight times as great as it is in New Eng- 

 land, and two and a halt' times as great as it is in the Middle 

 States. If we add the proportion of potatoes to that of the grain, 

 and suppose four bushels of the former equal to one of the latter, 

 then the difference between the Western States and New England 

 will be as 5 to 1, and between the former and the Middle States as 

 2i to 1. 



It should further be remarked, that about fifteen-sixteenths of the 

 grain and potatoes produced in the United States are consumed at 

 home, either directly, or in the form of animal food, and only one- 

 sixteenth is sent abroad in either of these forms. From this large 

 domestic consumption, we may see how greatjy the Western States 

 are benefited by this greater cheapness of production. It may 

 well be supposed that the gain from this source compensates them 

 for their greater distance from market. 



The quantity of food annually consumed in the United States by 

 a family of five persons,* after deducting one-sixteenth of the grain 

 for the amount exported, and one-tenth for seed, is as follows : 



Indian corn, 85 bushels. 



Oats, 28 



Wheat, rye, &c, 25 " 



Potatoes, 25 " 



The average of domestic animals to each family is : 



Horses and mules, 1 \ 



Cattle, 4 



Sheep, 5i 



Hogs, 7 



To the articles annually consumed by a family, are to be added 

 poultry, to the value of $2 25 ; pickled fish, one-third of a barrel ; 

 rice, 12 lbs. ; sugar, 42 lbs. ? besides garden vegetables, products 

 of the orchard, and game. 



The same, or nearly the same very liberal consumption which 

 is here indicated, may be expected to continue in the United States 

 so long as its population continues thin, compared with the capaci- 



* It was not thought necessary to distinguish the families of slaves in this estimate 

 from those of free persons, there being no essential difference between them as con- 

 sumers of raw produce. If the families of slaves consume somewhat less of animal food, 

 they contain also a greater proportion of children. 



