12 THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



brought from a distance. A man of special skill and intelli- 

 gence may sometimes wisely work against peculiarities of 

 climate and soil. It often happens that those who are first to 

 see the probable value of a crop new to the region, or first to 

 adapt their farming to changing conditions, are much more 

 successful than their neighbors. 



25. Specialties. — A wisely selected specialty often gives 

 much larger profits than come to the farmer who divides his 

 efforts among several branches of farming. The specialty 

 farmer ought to learn more about producing and disposing of 

 his one crop than if he looked after several. He has a better 

 opportunity of making a good reputation and of getting some- 

 what higher prices. He may be able to produce more cheaply 

 by better use of machinery. Specialties which require most of 

 intelligence and skill may give largest profits, with possibilities 

 of large losses. 



26. General Farming. — For most farmers the production of 

 several crops is safer and wiser than giving nearly exclusive 

 attention to one crop. It usually enables the farmer to dis- 

 tribute his labor and that of his employes and teams to better 

 advantage throughout the year. It gives the advantages of a 

 rotation of crops and, if stock feeding is a part of the system, 

 of retaining much of the manurial value of the crops on 

 the farm. It is something of a safeguard against poor yields 

 and poor prices. It rarely happens that all the crops give poor 

 yields, and also bring k)W prices. The attempt to produce a 

 little of each of a large variety of crops on any farm is almost 

 always unwise. The safe rule is to give the chief attention to 

 one or two or three crops, but not limit the crops to these. 



Practicum. 



27. Relative Importance of Field Crops. — Give each student an outline 

 map of the United States such as prepared by the U. S. Weather Bureau. Require 

 each to indicate by suitable legend the percentage of area in cereals, hay and forage, 

 and fiber crops to total farm area in each State. The data may be obtained from 

 census reports or the reports of the U- S. Department of Agriculture. 



