9O FARM DEVELOPMENT 



the heavy lands and secure a soil somewhat lighter. On 

 the other hand, it is often necessary to adapt the busi- 

 ness to the farm which it is practicable to secure. 



Producing capacity. Generally the producing capacity 

 of the soil is of the greatest importance. The lands of 

 the western states are rising in value and in price from 

 decade to decade. Lands with large native fertility will 

 generally rise in value more rapidly than will the more 

 sandy lands, or lands which for other reasons are not 

 especially productive. No one ever hears of farms on 

 mixed black prairie soils of the west being abandoned, 

 as are sometimes the farms of hilly New England, or 

 the sandier lands of the pine regions, or the drouthy 

 lands of the Great Plains area. The soil surveys of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture and of some 

 state bureaus will be great aids in selecting the regions 

 to investigate for good soils and desirable farms. 



Ability to withstand drouth. Drouth resistance is an- 

 other important quality, especially to soils in, or border- 

 ing on, the great semi-arid regions. Here it is not so 

 much a question of fertility, as of soil moisture. Farm- 

 ing on drouthy, sandy or gravelly soil is more specula- 

 tive ; one year the crop may be satisfactory, but another 

 year the crop is ruined by the drouth. Generally, sandy 

 lands sell for more than they are worth, while the re- 

 verse is true of the stronger lands. Far to the north, 

 heavy lands are at a disadvantage because they are 

 too cold. 



Healthfulness. In choosing a locality in which to pur- 

 chase a farm, a healthful climate is of importance, as 

 such a climate is necessary to develop strong, useful and 

 happy people. Many sections once unhealthful, as 

 large parts of Indiana and Illinois, have been made 

 healthful by drainage, and many regions needing drain- 

 age will, ere long, be so completely drained as to be free 

 from malarial diseases. Sufficient and evenly dis- 



