STATISTICS OF WHEAT CULTTJEE. 



227 



conducted analyses that potatoes at their late prices are the most expensive 

 kind of farinaceous food. This will be evident from the following statement : — 



"Potatoes contain from about seventy to seventy-nine per cent, of water, 

 ■while the proportion in wheat flour is from twelve to fourteen per cent ; and 

 while the gluten and albumen in potatoes scarcely rise to one per cent., in 

 wheat flour the range may be set down at from nine to thirteen per cent. 

 Again, the non nitrogenous principles are as about seventy-five per cent, in 

 wheat flour against fifteen or sixteen in potatoes. In short, whilst potatoes 

 supply only twenty per cent, of heat-forming and nutritious principles, taken 

 together, wheat supplies more than seventy per cent, of the former, and more 

 than ten of the latter. The value of wheat to potatoes, therefore, is at least 

 four to one ; or, if wheat sells at fifteen shillings sterling per cwt., potatoes to 

 be equally cheap, ought to sell at between three and four shillings." 



The preceding results, for which I am principally indebted to Dr. Daubeny, 

 Professor of Chemistry at Oxford,* show that unless a great change occurs in 

 the culture of the p tato, there must be an increased demand for other kinds of 

 farinaceous food. And it is worthy of notice that while this blight is one of 

 the causes which bring to our shores the starving population of Europe, the 

 raising of the cereals not only furnishes profitable employment to the emigrant, 

 but enables him to make the best return to those who are still obliged to remain, 



Adaptatiftn of the soil <^.nd cUmaie of the Tniicd Stafex to the culture of the 

 cereals. — That the soil and climate of many portions of the United States are 

 well adapted to the cultivation of the more important cereals, is fully shown by 

 the results of all the reseai'ches which have thus far been prosecuted. I have 

 indeed seen it asserted that the climate of England is the best for the cultiva- 

 tion of wheat, and preferable to any in our country ; its humidity being the pe- 

 culiarity to which this suj^eriority is ascribed. f But this is undoubtedly the 

 testimony cf a too partial witness. A recent statement by an English author is 

 the result of a more correct knowledge of the facts. He acknowledges that 

 there is no ground for the expectation which has been entertained concerning 

 the advantageous growth of n-aize in England. "I\or is ours," says he, "the 

 most favorable country for wheat, but skill in husbandry has overcome great 

 difficulties." j The mistake on this subject may have originated from the oc- 

 currence of a larger and plumper grain in the more huniid climate ; but analy- 

 sis shows that the small grain raised in the hotter and drier air oftentimes 

 greatly surpasses the former in its nutritious value, 



Russia is said to be the great rival of this country in the growth of wheat, 

 but I think it doubtful whether she possesses superior natural advantages ; and 

 I am sure she will find it difficult to compete with the industry and skill which 

 here characterize the operations of husbandry, and the manufacture and ship- 

 ment of breadstuifs. 



Export of sophisticated and damaged flour. — It is a matter of deep regi-et that 

 circumstances have occurred which must have a most injurious influence upon, 

 the trade in breadstuffs between this country and Great Britain. I refer to the 

 mixtures of damaged, inferior, and good kinds of flour, which it appears on au- 

 thentic testimony have been largely exported during the past year. Whether 

 this fraudulent operation, which is said to have been principally confined to 

 New Tork, is the result of the change in the inspection laws, as some assert, I 

 am unable to say. But it requires no great foresight to predict that, if con- 

 tinued, it will create a distr-ust of our breadstufts in foreign ports which it will 

 be very difficult to remove. It caimot but excite the indignation of the many 

 honorable dealers, that the unworthy cupidity of a few individuals should lead 

 to such disastrous consequences. 



I have as yet been unable to obtain samples of these sophisticated flours, and 

 the only information which I have in regard to them is the general fact above 

 stated, and concerning the truth of which there can be little doubt. ISTo means 



* A lecture on the nn.tritiTe value of different articles of food, by C. Daubeny^ M.D., 

 " Gardener'3 Chronicle" (London), January 20th, 1S49, p. 37. 



t Transactions of the Xew Tork State Agricultural Society, 1k49, p. 646. 

 % A lecture " On the Geographical DistriV tiou of Com Plants," bv the Ec-v. E. Sidney- 

 Proceedings of the EoTal Institution (London), Ivlay ISth, 1849. 



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