20 



FIELD CROPS 



16. The Right Crops to Grow. The choice of field crops 

 for a given farm or locaUty depends to some extent on the 

 climate and soil conditions, the kind of farming, and the 

 proximity of the market. Climate limits the production of 

 some crops. Cotton, for instance, can be grown profitably 

 only where the summers are long and hot. Winter wheat 

 may thrive where spring wheat is wholly unprofitable. 





flw iiiA 



m^ 



Figure 4. — By far the larfjost part of the corn crop is fed on the farm and 



marketed in the conoentrated form of animal products. 



Some crops grow best on a sandy soil; others, on clay. We 

 can materially change the nature of a soil by tillage, drainage, 

 and the application of fertilizers, so as to make it suitable for 

 many crops, but soil t3"pes limit to some extent the growth 

 and profitableness of some of our most important crop plants. 

 The quality and value of tobacco are influenced more by 

 the nature of the soil on which it is grown than b}^ any other 

 factor. It is usually a good plan to follow the general prac- 

 tice of a neighborhood in choosing the crops to grow, though 

 a new crop may sometimes be introduced with profit. 



The use which is to be made of a crop is a decided factor 

 in its choice. On a dairj^ farm, forage crops arc of prime 

 importance. The selection of these crops and the relative 

 areas to be devoted to them depend on the special methods 

 which are followed. Some crops are suitable for pasture. 



