INCREASED PRODUCTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 13 



The crop of Ohio was better, though scarcely equal to that of 1840. 

 Of this, fourteen millions of bushels were allowed for exportation. The 

 yield in Indiana and Illinois was estimated as high as 50 per cent, 

 gain. 



In 1840 there was shipped to Buffalo from Chicago but 20.000 

 bushels, while in 1841, 200.000 bushels were shipped. This, with 

 the fact that one half more seed has been put in for this year than 

 any year before, proves the rapid increase of this grain in Illinois. 

 In Missouri, Arkansas, and Michigan the increase was nearly 50 per 

 cent. The great surplus thus apparent in the western states must 

 produce a vast revenue by exportation to Canada and to our Atlantic 

 cities. 



Calculating the grain last year to be 10 per cent, over the preced- 

 ing ; and if we estimate the increase in this ratio annually for ten years 

 from 1840, the amount of wheat will be over 250 millions of bushels, 

 or 15.000 millions of pounds as the product of 1850, which alone will 

 support a population of 31.250.000 persons. 



The aggregate amount of bread stuffs, including corn, potatoes and 

 rice for 1842 was 717.714.691 bushels, this will allow for each person 

 of our population, man, woman and child, about 40 bushels ; or without 

 rice, nearly 37 bushels each, or without potatoes, 35 bushels each. 

 This shows an immense surplus, according to the usual calculations. 

 Other articles, it will be seen, add greatly to this amount of the agri- 

 cultural surplus of our country. If we estimate the annual consump- 

 tion of wheat at 480 Ibs. for each individual, and each bushel of wheat 

 at 60 Ibs., we have 6,139,040,400 Ibs. of wheat as last year's product, 

 which alone would support 12,789,672 persons. But rejecting rye, 

 rice, barley, oats peas, beans, (the two last of which constitute a large 

 proportion of the English estimates, as we shall show,) with the other 

 American grains, and retaining two grains only, and we have near 32 

 bushels for each person. We may safely estimate, on the whole, the 

 product of last year, 1842, as capable of supporting a population of 

 more than 50 millions. 



The production of wheat is said to be increased by manuring with 

 salt-petre, and nitrate of potash, or animal substances, bones, urine and 

 lime ; and also that the best grain for bread is not the best for seed. 

 The seed must contain the elements of wheat in due proportions ; and 

 some soils are better calculated for this than others, though others may 

 produce better bread-grain. It is likewise said that the best seed 

 wheat should contain much starch and little gluten, and that, conse- 

 quently, it should not be raised on rich or highly manured ground, as 

 this deranges the required proportions of starch and gluten. The se- 

 lection of large full grains by means of a seive, and the sunning of 

 these for two days, has proved effectual in resisting the effects of the 

 Hessian fly. Further notice of seeds, with a recent discovery in pre- 

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