62 



plantations, and from thence followed eniigi-ation West until 

 there was raised in the United States alone of this cereal, 

 84,823,272 bushels in 1840, of which 73,625,174 bushels were 

 consumed and 11,198,098 bushels exported, or 7| per cent, of 

 the crop raised, while its production has increased so wonder- 

 fully that in 1880, by the reports to Bradstreets, the crop is 

 estimated at 465,691,000 bushels, with amount estimated for 

 home consumption, 281,000,000 bushels, leaving about 184,- 

 000,000 bushels surplus for export, or 40 per cent, of the crop 

 raised. 



During this period of 40 years, the population of the United 

 States has increased about 300 per cent, and the wheat crop 

 650 per cent. In 1840, the population consumed about 4.5 

 hu„5hels per capita, which, in 1880, has increased to 5.5 bush- 

 els as the estimated consumption per capita. " The consump- 

 tion of wlieat bread, indicates the advance of a people towards 

 the highest civilization ;" because it is a know^n fact that, 

 wherever wheaten bread as an article of food is used the most, 

 its superior nutritious qualities, tends to make the people more 

 active, vigorous, and enterprising. Every one knows the in- 

 fluence that the physical condition of a human body exercises 

 over its mental and moral powers. Anything, therefore, which 

 has a tendency to improve and strengthen the human frame, 

 must at the same time raise the tone of his mental and moral 

 qualities. When we consider, in this direction, the increase of 

 nearly 25 j^er cent, in the consumption of ivheaten bread per 

 capita, in the past forty years, we can account for the active, 

 progressive spirit of the American people. 



As Wheat in the Bible is called the '' Staff of Bread,'' so is 

 Bread called, and is the " Staff of Lifef and whoever makes 

 good bread in any household, is a blessing or " staff" to that 

 family ; for with good bread, with or without butter or molass- 

 es, the children are satisfied, contented and happy, growing up 

 to be active, vigorous and enterprising men and women; whilst 

 with the heavy, sour, slack baked, as well as slack made wheat 

 bread, or bread yellow hued with saleratus and other prepar- 



