CHAPTER VII 

 FARM CROPS 



Every crop of the farm has been changed and improved 

 greatly since the forefathers of that crop were wild plants. 

 Those plants that best serve the needs of the farmer and 

 farm animals have undergone the greatest changes and 

 have received also the greatest care and attention in their 

 production and improvement. 



While we have very many different kinds of farm 

 crops, the greater part of the cultivated area of the world 

 is occupied by a very few. The crop that is most valu- 

 able and that occupies the greatest land area is generally 

 called the grass crop. Included in the general term grass 

 crop are all the various grasses and clovers that are used 

 for pasturage and for hay. Next to grass in value come 

 the two great cereals, corn and wheat, closely followed by 

 the greatest fiber crop, cotton. Oats rank fifth in value, 

 potatoes sixth, and tobacco seventh. 



Success in growing any crop is most largely due to the 

 suitableness of soil and climate to that crop. When the 

 planter selects both the most suitable soil and the most 

 suitable climate for each crop, he gets not only the most 

 bountiful yield from the crop, but in addition he gets the 

 most desirable quality of product. A little careful obser- 

 vation and study soon teach what kinds of soil produce 

 crops of the highest excellence. This learned, the planter 



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