The storm's effects destroyed numerous crops, including sugar cane, rice, and other winter-time harvests. Replenishing the topsoil with lost nutrients provided for bountiful harvests. Bountiful western harvests in 1857 caused grain prices to fall. In this metaphor, death harvests the living, like a farmer harvests the crops. Those who serve her are also promised plentiful harvests and healthy livestock. Many farmers' summer harvests were destroyed. Good crop harvests and strong industrial expansion also helped the economy. Double monsoons led to two harvests being reaped in one year. Their successors were not as successful in reaping harvests of redeemed souls. Deteriorating transportation infrastructure and poor harvests caused food shortages in many places. Brazilian corn has two harvests per year. Oysters are subject to various diseases which can reduce harvests and severely deplete local populations. Cats were sometimes eaten as a famine food during harsh winters, poor harvests, and wartime. "Firstfruits" offerings were also demanded of all Strangite agricultural harvests. Vines can also be trained through dry picking to help avoid damage in subsequent harvests.