104 THE BUSINESS OF FARMING 



agricultural condition and not a theory. Any one 

 with observing eye can see it. In every part and 

 portion of our country we stand in the midst of 

 worn and worn-out soils soils that no longer 

 produce paying crops. The abandoned farm is a 

 part of our agricultural economy, and these worn- 

 out abandoned soils are not safe investments if 

 farmed by the same methods that made them 

 worn and worn-out, and which led to their aban- 

 donment. 



We have said that if our worn soils were but 

 possessed of tongues, their treatment by which 

 they have become worn-out, has been enough to 

 unloosen them and make them speak with in- 

 dignation. But although these soils are with- 

 out the power of speech, they have by actions that 

 speak louder than fiery words, shown their re- 

 sentment and wrathful feelings. They have ex- 

 pressed their indignation by stunted crop growth, 

 the eroding away by washing rains and blowing 

 winds and refusing to grow crops that pay the 

 cost of production. And yet some of these speech- 

 less, indignant soils are by their owners fed with 

 food that does not satisfy, but only intensifies and 

 makes more acute their present condition. And 

 their condition is further aggravated by being 

 cultivated under the mistaken notion promulgated 

 by our government, that their fertility has not 

 been exhausted. 



Business is nothing more than being industri- 

 ously engaged in the affairs of some occupation 

 from which we derive our support. 



Generally we select our business in early life 

 and more or less attempt to qualify ourselves for 



