BRAIN-FOOD OF THE WORLD. 43 



country, occupied more than three-tenths of the . improved 

 land, and amounted to more than 25|^ bushels for each inhabit- 

 ant. The export of this grain rose in value in 1856 to nearly 

 $9,000,000. 



This wonderful rapidity of increase continued, partly on 

 account of the vast improvement in agricultural implements 

 and the means of raising the crop, partly on account of the 

 multiplicity of railroads and market facilities, till, in 1860, it 

 amounted to 838,792,742 bushels ; but it had fallen off some 

 what in 1870, for it is reported then as 760,944,549 bushels, 

 a portion of the land evidently having been devoted to wheat, 

 which had very largely increased in the same time. When it 

 is considered that our agricultural resources are still but 

 partially developed, the product of this cereal appears to be 

 truly amazing. 



WHEAT CULTURE. 



Nor is the growth of wheat in this country less important 

 than that of Indian corn. In some respects it is even more 

 so. It is the brain-food of the world. It has been said that 

 the progress of civilization and intellectual culture can be 

 traced from one degree to another by the extent of its growth 

 and consumption. It is gratifying, therefore, to find that our 

 present annual production of this cereal amounts to nearly 

 300,000,000 bushels, and that our ability to increase it is 

 capal)]e of an almost unlimited expq,nsion. It has always 

 entered hito our exports to an e'xtent dependent chiefly upon 

 the foreign demand, and experience has proved that the sur- 

 plus of this grain, the amount we could spare from home 

 consumption, is as elastic as Indian-rubber. If Europe needs 

 our wheat or our flour, and is ready to pay us good prices, 

 either from a short crop, a disturbed state of political afiairs, 

 or from any other cause, no one could set bounds to our 

 surplus, because the more she wants the more we have to 

 spare, and the less she requires, the more freely is it used at 

 home. In other words, the amount of exports will be regu- 

 lated chiefly by the price, and if foreign countries are willing, 

 or are compelled to pay for it, we can supply them to any 

 extent under any ordinary circumstances. The export, for 

 instance, in 1850, amounted to little more than eight millions 



