American Agriculture [pp. 249-264]

THE PRINCETON RE VIEW.
the thirteenth State in wheat, but is first in buckwheat, second
in barley, and third.in rye.
It is in the way described that Americans have dealt with
the soil opened to them by treaty or by purchase. And I have
no hesitation in saying that posterity will decide, first, that it
was both economically justified and politically fortunate that
this should be done; and, secondly, that what has been done
was accomplished with singular enterprise, prudence, patience,.
intelligence, and skill.
It will appear, from what has been said under the preceding
titles, that I entertain a somewhat exalted opinion concerning
American agriculture. Indeed, I do. To me the achievements,
of those who in this new land have dealt with the soil, under the
conditions so hurriedly and imperfectly recited, surpass the
achievements of mankind in any other field of economic effort.
With the labor power and capital power which we have had to
expend during the past one hundred years, to have taken from
the ground these hundreds, these thousands of millions of tons
of food, fibres, and fuel for man's uses, leaving the soil no more
exhausted than we find it to-day; and, meantime, to have built
up, out of the current profits of this primitive agriculture, such
a stupendous fund of permanent improvements, in provision for
future needs and in preparation for a more advanced industry
and a higher tillage: this certainly seems to be not only beyond
the achievement, but beyond the power, of any other race of.
men.
FRANCIS A. WALKER.
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