Defenseless Trade Position of Agriculture. 89 



is afforded by the annual reports of the Agricultural 

 Department in regard to the potato crop. An examina- 

 tion of the record for the last thirty or forty years will 

 show that, as a rule, less has been received for the total 

 product of the country when there was a large yield than 

 when the number of bushels has been far smaller. 



So, too, an improvement in quality, should this result 

 come from a more scientific education — if the change is 

 general over the country — may not put an additional dol- 

 lar into the farmer's pocket, but go to tickle the palate of 

 the consumers. This is made plain by the apple crop. 

 In a year of plenty a barrel of fine large apples may sell 

 for $1. The next year, if there is a scarcity, a barrel of 

 scrubs may fetch $2. This shows, as far as the pocket 

 of the farmer is concerned, that, except where the 

 improved quality is in limited quantities, the higher edu- 

 cation in this respect is not so lucrative as is generally 

 supposed. If the better quality cannot be obtained, the 

 inferior article will bring just as much ; and if next year 

 farmers all over the nation would contract production to 

 three-fourths the usual quantity, the probability is that 

 they would take in just as much money. Unless this 

 position can be successfully assailed, it is evident that 

 there has been an immense amount of talk and ink 

 thrown away so far as improving the condition of the 

 farmer is concerned. If this tongue and pen energy had 

 been expended in making market conditions favorable 

 for agricultural products, not only would the financial 

 position have been greatly improved, but the influence of 

 the farmer would have been far greater, and the nation 

 is in need of this conservative influence. 



Thank God, the light is breaking in one direction. In 

 the address of Mr. X. J. Bachelder, worthy master of 



