GENESIS OF THE SOIL AND ITS POSSIBILITIES 205 



and scientific purposes. It is unfortunate that such 

 great prolixity of names for slight variations has come 

 into vogue. 



VARIETY OF CROPS. 



Within the borders of the United States is grown 

 every agricultural crop known to the world. Our soil 

 produces immense quantities of the cereals; of fiber 

 plants, including especially cotton and flax; of sugar- 

 producing plants, including sugar cane, sugar beets, 

 sorghum, and maple trees; all kinds of vegetables and 

 fruits; medicinal plants of great variety; forest prod- 

 ucts of all kinds, and spices and condiments of every 

 description. 



WILL OUR SOILS PRODUCE ENOUGH FOR FUTURE 

 GENERATIONS ? 



There is one question which constantly presents it- 

 self to the mind of the political economist, namely, Is 

 the rate of increase in population to be diminished, or, 

 if continued, will the food supply be exhausted in the 

 near or remote future ? In looking for answers to these 

 questions, political economists must consult scientific 

 agriculture. In the application of the principles of 

 agriculture to science is found the only safe response. 

 It is certain that under the fostering care of this coun- 

 try and with wise and well directed engineering, many 

 millions of acres of rich land can be procured for agri- 

 cultural purposes through irrigation. Science teaches 

 us in many other ways the methods of making the farm, 

 to a certain extent, independent of the variations in 

 rainfall. The true principles of conserving moisture 

 for the purpose of crop production, and of utilizing to 

 the best advantage the excess of precipitation, are now 



