INTRODUCTION 



daily considered, the farmer may be more inde- 

 pendent than the man of the city, but he is cer- 

 tainly more directly dependent upon the condi- 

 tions set by his physical environment. 



But while the farmer may be more directly 

 dependent upon Nature than are those engaged in 

 the industries of the city, he is by no means inde- 

 pendent of his fellow men. The pioneer farmer 

 who looked primarily to the satisfaction of the 

 wants of his own household may have selected 

 the crops which he cultivated, without giving 

 any thought to the needs of other men; but the 

 modern agriculturist, who produces primarily for 

 the market, and procures upon the market a large 

 share of the necessaries, conveniences, and luxuries 

 of life, is bound to take into account the demands 

 of his fellow beings. The modern farmer must 

 consider the price for which the produce can be 

 sold as well as the conditions of production, if 

 he would manage his farm successfully. 



This close dependence of the farmer upon 

 physical and social conditions which are subject 

 to variation from year to year, makes it impos- 

 sible for him to manage his work by rule of 

 thumb. He must follow general principles rather 

 than specific rules. He is ever being required 

 to adjust himself to new commercial conditions, 

 and demands are being made upon his judgment 

 many times in the course of each 'day's work, as 

 he tries to adjust his farm operations to the vary- 



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