28G HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



Bushels of buck-wheat. 9,821,721 



Pounds of tobacco 262,735,341 



Bales of cotton 3,011,996 



Pounds of rice 73,635,021 



Pounds of wool 100,102,386 



Bushels of peas and beans 5 745 027 



Gallons of wine 3,092,330 



Tons of hay 27,316,048 



Pounds of hops 25,456,669 



Tons of hemp 12 746 



Pounds of flax 27,133,034 



Bushels of flaxseed 1,730,444 



Pounds of silk cocoons _ 3,937 



These figures present to the reader a fair average of 

 the condition of the farming interest of the country. 

 They show that nearly one-half of the whole toiling 

 class, the men and women who use hands and brain to 

 procure their daily bread, are engaged in the labors of 

 the farm and in pursuits kindred to it. These consti- 

 tute the real backbone and sinew of the country, and 

 are its mainstay in times of trial and danger. 



Whatever may be the merits of other classes, it can- 

 not be denied that our agricultural community com- 

 prises a population of which any country may be 

 proud. The American farmer is, as a rule, an intelli- 

 gent, clear-headed, practical man. He is the possessor 

 of, at least, a common school education. A reader of 

 the newspapers and a lover of books, he manages to 

 keep himself abreast of the questions of the day, and 

 has definite and intelligent opinions concerning them, 

 which he is able to express vigorously when occasion 

 demands. He is strong-armed as well as strong-minded, 

 and his out-door life keeps him in robust health. He is 

 industrious, ambitious to improve his temporal condi- 

 tion, and attentive to his duties. As a citizen he is 

 faithful to the obligations imposed upon him by the 



