37-2 



Work for August. 



Vol. III. 



to raise the crop at so low a rate as to keep 

 possession of the European market against all 

 competition. 



" ' In getting possession of that market so 

 fully and rapidly heretofore, the United States 

 have been much aided by the good quality of 

 their cotton, the low price of land, and the 

 g'reat improvements of cleaning cotton by 

 Whitney's cotton gin, since 179.'i One per- 

 son is able to perform in a day the work of 

 one thousand without it. Besides tliese advan- 

 tages, the unusual industry and enterprize of 

 our population, and its freedom from ta.xntion, 

 compared with the people of most other coim- 

 tries, and the wide extent of our commerce, 

 liave promoted our unprecedented progress.' " 



The capital employed in the cultivation of 

 cotton in the United States, is estimated at 

 nine hundred and eighteen millions of dollars. 

 It includes two millions of acres of land de- 

 voted to the culture of cotton, at twenty dollars 

 per acre ; three hundred and forty thousand 

 field hands, with the lands, stock and labor ne- 

 cessary to maintain them, &c. &c. The esti- 

 mate of the number of laborers is based upon 

 the supposition of one field laborer, to every 

 six acres of cotton. — Some however think that 

 as many as five hundred and fifty thousand 

 hands are employed ; but all, not constantly, in 

 the cotton culture. 



The quantity, says the authority first 

 quoted, exported in 1790, was four hundred 

 thousand ; in 1791, two hundred thousand ; and 

 in 1792, one hundred and fifty thousand 

 pounds. Its diminution even in the last two 

 named years, furnishing even in the absence 

 of all other testimony the most conclusive 

 evidence of the difficulty of preparing the 

 commodity for market, to which we have ad- 

 verted. In 1795, after the saw-gin had be- 

 gun to operate to a considerable extent, the 

 export was six millions two hundred and fifty 

 thousand pounds. From this period, the ex- 

 portation has gradually increased to its pres- 

 ent extent — being in the year 1835, the last 

 year stated by Secretary Woodbury, three 

 hundred and tnirty-six millions five hundred 

 thousand pounds. From other authentic 

 sources we have ascertained that the exports 

 .of 1836, was upwards of four hundred and 

 twenty three millions of pounds. The whole 

 of the exportation of cotton from the United 



States, during the first three years before 

 stated, (1790-1-2) would hardly suffice for 

 the cargo of a single ship of the size now 

 usually employed in freighting it to Europe ; 

 while, in 18;5<J, if we add to the quantity ex- 

 ported, that used in the middle states for do- 

 mestic purposes and our extensive manufac- 

 turers, which cannot be fairly estimated at 

 less than one hundred and twenty-five millions 

 of pounds, the aggregate would not fall far 

 short of enough to freight a thousand such 

 ships. Such a v/onderful increase, in the 

 production of a single article, within so short 

 a period, cannot fail to fill the mind with as- 

 tonishment. 



The same writer in his excellent and in- 

 structive essay in the Review, speaking of 

 the wonderful results of the saw-gin, says — 

 " It was not, as has been the case with so 

 many of the most valuable discoveries, the 

 offspring of a lucky accident, but was the re- 

 sult of the systematic application of earnest 

 thought and powerful, mechanical genius. — 

 When it was originally put in motion, it was 

 precisely identical in principle and operation 

 with those now employed throughout the 

 southern and south-western states. For the 

 sake of the credit of tiiose states which have 

 derived almost incalculable wealth from his 

 simple and ingenious invention, we wish it 

 was in our power to say that a fit reward had 

 been bestowed upon — Eli Whitney !'' 



Farmers' IVork for August. 



ON THE FARM. 



The harvest having been secured, the farm- 

 er must turn his attention to getting- out his 

 grain, and if the prices are equal to his ex- 

 pectations, let him take it to market without 

 delay ; if tiiey are not, and he has well 

 grounded hopes of their improving, let him 

 carefully put his grain awny in his barn. But 

 before he conies to the determination to do 

 so, and thereby subject it to tlie depredations 

 of rats and other grain-eatinfrverniin. let him 

 recollect that he who gets his grain early to 

 market, most generally rinds a good price and 

 ready sale. 



Jf his turneps are not in, the farmer should 

 not delay a day longer, but go to work and 

 sow them ; not forcetting to be carefu! in ob- 

 taining fiood seed ; for without they are fresh, 

 true, and of the right kinds, disappointment 



