CHAPTER II. 



THE POSSIBILITIES OF AGRICULTURE. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the old farms of the 

 world are in many instances showing signs of exhaustion, 

 and that the doctrine of Malthus is still held by very 

 many, we are of the belief that the possibilities of agri- 

 culture are immense. Under the ideal guidance that 

 would seem possible, no branch of material development 

 suggests to the mind greater chances for grand results. 



Did the reader, who may happen to be a farmer, ever 

 think of what a paradise could be made of the acres 

 around his dwelling ? What subjects for study and 

 development of intellect could be the possession of his 

 family and society ! And did he ever undertake to make 

 a calculation of what might be raised on his farm by the 

 proper mixing of soils and the application of fertilizers, 

 or how exceedingly few the acres which are yielding even 

 a trifle of their possibilities ? 



Mr. Edward Atkinson, in his " Distribution of Prod- 

 ucts," states that the average crop of wheat in the 

 United States and Canada would give one person in 

 every twenty of the population of the globe a barrel of 

 flour in each year, with enough to spare for seed. The 

 land capable of producing wheat is not occupied to any 

 thing like one twentieth of its extent. We can raise 

 grain enough on a small part of the territory of the 



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