142 
Annual Report of the 
portation. Demand is subject to~ no voluntary control. Necessity, 
real or fancied, governs it entirely. 
Supply might be controlled by voluntary action, but is not likely 
to be. If anything will teach men to regulate it, it is the study of 
statistics. These tables teach us that there is an over production of 
the cereals in the United States. We are obliged to look for a for¬ 
eign market. We are also taught by these same tables that there 
is a prospective foreign demand at moderate prices which will re¬ 
quire it all. These tables teach us the absolute necessity of vary¬ 
ing our industry. 
Our new territories are opening up with immense rapidity. Wis¬ 
consin has alreadv seceded from the second to the fourth rank as a 
wheat producing state, and this in the face of the largest crop we 
have ever raised. All these new countries must pass through an 
excessive wheat producing stage before they are prepared for other 
pursuits. It is wisdom for every man who can, to turn his atten¬ 
tion towards other sources of income until this wheat mania shall 
pass away, as it inevitably will. An excess of other grain is sooner 
disposed of, as it is food for both man and beast, while an excess of 
wheat has to wait for a market until it is wanted by the human 
family. 
Contentment never prompts to great exertions, nor leads men in 
the path of improvement. The most hopeful sign of the times is 
the wide-spread discontent which prevails. We want to learn 
to doubt our own wisdom, and not let our indifference nor our preju¬ 
dices lead us in unprofitable paths, although they may be well worn 
by centuries of use. While we indulge in profound veneration for 
our fathers, yet we want to see wherein we can improve upon their 
practices. There is no doubt but that our present system of farm¬ 
ing must give place to improved methods if we wish to make it 
profitable. 
The great point to be consulted is the good of the land we cul¬ 
tivate. In working a team we aim to get out of it the greatest 
amount of work consistent with its continued ability to perform 
the same. The earth is not much unlike our fellow men. If we 
pinch and cheat them they soon refuse to deal with us. We may 
appropriately apply to our intercourse with it the same divine rule 
which is given us to direct our conduct towards our fellows: ‘‘Give, 
and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and 
