OTHER AIDS TO FARMING 161 



to ascertain their needs, and then we must know 

 how to supply that need. We must know how to 

 prepare our soils for the crops, and how to plant, 

 cultivate and harvest, sell, or utilize the crop. 

 We must know about all the aids, hindrances and 

 discouragements of the business. And we must 

 know the characteristics of different farm crops 

 so as to ascertain if we can profitably grow them. 



Crop knowledge has been so disseminated in 

 recent years that most farmers know what crops 

 are suitable for their localities. Yet we must not 

 forget that it is a fact, which has been forcibly 

 demonstrated in recent years, that there are many 

 crops that can be grown with great profit not only 

 in dollars and cents, but for the compensation of 

 the soil, which were formerly unknown to the 

 farmer or were believed to be unsuitable for gen- 

 eral or extensive culture. As for illustration, take 

 alfalfa, vetch, soy beans, cow peas, and numerous 

 other crops that might be mentioned. A few 

 years ago the growing of these crops was looked 

 upon as the fads of impracticable men. But now 

 we know they are the godsends of agriculture. 



When the farmer determines the crops he is to 

 grow, then he must begin to look about for the 

 hindrances he is to encounter, or the aids he needs 

 in the growing of the crops he selects for his land. 



We have shown the importance of having a 

 good soil, how it may be secured and put in order 

 for crop growing, and many of the hindrances the 

 farmer will encounter and aids he will need, yet 

 there are others worthy of consideration and that 

 will help him in his business which we will for a 

 time consider. 



