CHAPTER XVIII 



SPECIAL CROPS 



Four Special Crops. There are a few special crops, 

 which, because of their increasing importance in agri- 

 culture, demand our attention. Four of these will be 

 considered in this chapter tobacco, sugar beets, pota- 

 toes and onions. All of these crops are grown in the 

 United States today, but, with the exception of pota- 

 toes, not in sufficient quantities to' supply the demand. 

 Until we do raise enough for home consumption, these 

 crops will yield larger returns to the farmer than the 

 other crops grown on the farm. 



TOBACCO. 



Tobacco a Heavy Feeder. As we have already 

 learned, tobacco is a heavy feeder and hard on the 

 soil. With every crop of tobacco sold off the farm 

 about twice as much fertility is removed as with any 

 grain crop that the farmer raises for market. But we 

 have agreed that grain farming does not pay. How 

 much more unprofitable, then, is it for the farmer to 

 raise tobacco extensively. There is but one way in 

 which he can keep up the fertility of his soil, and that 



