O? AMERICA. 



derived from the soil, whether grain or cotton, 

 meat or tobacco, &c. &c. 



That there are in the United States 2,600,000 

 farmers, who, most of them, own the soil which 

 they till, and whose annual expenditure must be 

 considerable. 



That the wages of farm labourers in the North 

 and West, range (see an article in the Times of 

 26th August, i879)fromSi9 69c. monthly (S236 

 per annum) to (§38 22c. monthly (S458 per 

 annum). In the South, under the competition 

 of negro labour, wages are only Si 5 monthly 

 (S180 per annum). 



That, as food and lodging cost the farmers and 

 labourers but little, most of their expenditure 

 falls on the articles of consumption comprised 

 in this inquiry. The question therefore is, 

 ' What is the average yearly expenditure, on 

 such articles, of each of those 7,000,000 persons 

 in the United States of America, who are en- 

 gaged in agricultural pursuits, some of whom 

 are single, but most of whom have families ? ' 

 It will be esteemed a favour if you will address a 

 communication at your earliest convenience to 



"A. MONGREDIEN, 



"Author of ' Five Trade- and English Commerce.' 



Forest Hill, near London. 

 "Zth March, i8So." 



The answers received (and they were notaiiany) ranged 

 from Si 50 per annum up to S5 per week (S260 per annum). 

 In the work we have taken S200 as a fair mean. But, 

 even upon the lowest estimate, the sum is so vast, that 

 it really matters very little which valuation is adopted. 

 If any reader thinks that S200 per annum is too high 

 an estimate, let him boldly strike off 25 per cent., and 



.*511H87 



