DISCOUBAGEMENTS 39 



men, and leave them stranded with naught but 

 hope remaining. We who are engaged in the 

 business of farming know of the discouragements 

 that beset it. 



The vicissitudes of weather are such that we 

 are often unable in the spring to put the soil at 

 the right time in proper condition for the plant- 

 ing of seed, or to get the seed planted at its ap- 

 pointed time. And the seeds we plant may be so 

 inferior that they will not germinate and grow, 

 or grow and produce crops of inferior quality 

 and productiveness. 



Periods of drought come with their exaspera- 

 tions, difficulties and problems. Constant rain at 

 harvest may in a short period of time destroy 

 the matured crop before it can be harvested, and 

 we are not without the devastation of fire and 

 flood. 



Every crop grown upon the farm, whether fruit 

 or vegetable, and every animal or fowl on the 

 farm, has its insect pest or fatal disease, and the 

 farmer must ever be on the alert and fight them 

 with vigor or they leave destruction and death in 

 their track. 



Even the soil has its ills and its diseases, loses 

 its power to produce, and requires the services 

 of a soil doctor. 



And then there are the perplexing questions 

 pertaining to the marketing of the farm produce. 

 Conditions obtain that not only prevent the mar- 

 keting of certain products, but beat down and de- 

 stroy the profit, and even cause the marketing of 

 produce for less than cost of production and actual 

 loss. Or there may be the entire lack of market, 



