344 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



seen that whilst the producers of food, in some 

 of the States at least, remain stationary, the 

 consumers have increased at a fearful rate. It 

 requires no profound knowledge of arithmetic 

 or political economy to perceive that this state 

 of things must have its effect on prices. 



III. The Effects of the War in Eue,ope. 



That large fleets and armies must require 

 supplies, is most obvious, and however guilt- 

 less they may be of shedding each other's blood, 

 the effect of the war upon prices is not the less 

 certain. Besides disturbing the natural course 

 of industry in the countries that become the 

 theatres of war, producers are taken from the 

 fields of agriculture to the camp, and become 

 the most wasteful consumers ; thus diminish- 

 ing the supply and greatly increasing the de- 

 mand for bread. 



IV. Short Crof. 

 I have already spoken of the corn crop. I 

 think you are greatly mistaken in supposing 

 the last crop of wheat to have been an average 

 one In what State was it a full crop ? Not 

 in Ohio, New York, Virginia, Maryland, or 

 even in Pennsylvania, as far as I am informed. 

 Of the crops in the far West I know nothing, 

 but always receive the paper estimates with 

 many grains of allowance. In Virginia the 

 crop is certainly very deficient, both in quan- 

 tity and quality. When the quality of wheat 

 is indifferent, the quantity is invariably short. 

 The Executive Committee of the Agricultural 

 Society of Marylaud, after full inquiry, came 

 to the conclusion, that the wheat crop of that 

 State did not exceed half an average. The 

 same may also be said of the crop of Virginia. 

 I have passed through the Baltimore corn ex- 

 change several times during the summer, and 

 examined the samples of wheat, and I have 

 never seen them so poor. I sent wheat, the 

 last season, to Baltimore, that weighed upwards 

 of 63 lbs. to the bushel. I have examined the 

 sales book of one of the largest commission 

 houses this season, and the weight of the same 

 variety ranges from 55 to 58 — rarely making 

 58 pounds. An intelligent member of the firm 

 stated to me, that he was satisfied, from the 

 shipments made to his house, that the crop of 

 the tide-water country was one-half short. Of 

 the crops of Europe you will have more here- 

 after, when the necessity will reveal the truth 

 that policy now seeks to reveal. Long con- 

 tinued rains before harvest are now followed 

 by good or abundant crops. The only samples 

 of new wheat offered in the London markets are 

 reported as being of inferior quality. This, 

 of itself, is a pregnant fact, which farmers can 

 understand, if merchants will ignore it. 



In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I have but a 

 word to say. Should the general effort of^the 

 press to lower prices for the temporary relief of 

 the necessities of the cities be successful, and 

 large shipments of corn and other breadstuffs 

 be made to foreign countries, we may yet rue 

 our folly, when the pressing wants of our own 

 countrymen shall demand supplies, which can 

 neither be had at home nor abroad. 



I am yours, very respectfully, 



WlLLOUGHBY NeWTON. 



PAYMENTS TO THE SOUTHERN PLANTER, 



To the mh of October, 1854. 



All persons who have made payments early enough to 

 be entered, and whose names do not appear in the following 

 receipt list, are requested to give immediate notice of the 

 omission, in order that the correction may be made in the 



next issue : 



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William Gough to January 1855 1 00 



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