PREPARATION OF SOILS FOR CROPS 303 



because of poor sanitary conditions, or from lack of 

 room for development. Experiments show that an ex- 

 cessive amount of seed wheat as more than 100 pounds 

 per acre of spring wheat does not give good results. 

 Each crop has its limit beyond which it is not desirable 

 to crowd the plants in the seed bed. When there is 

 crowding, unhygienic conditions prevail and the lack of 

 air, sunlight, and good ventilation encourages bacterial 

 diseases, while on the other hand too few plants favor 

 the growth of weeds and an abnormal development of 

 the crop. In the seeding of grains and other farm crops, 

 the amount of seed to be used per acre should be deter- 

 mined by the quality of the seed and the local conditions, 

 as climate and soil, together with any special character- 

 istic desired in the way of composition and character of 

 the crop. 



358. Selection of Crops. - - The selection of the most 

 suitable crops to be grown is largely a local problem and 

 must be determined by climatic and soil conditions. The 

 preference of farm crops for certain types of soil is dis- 

 cussed in Sections 1 1 to 17, and it is not advisable to 

 attempt to grow crops upon soils to which they are not 

 naturally adapted or under unfavorable climatic condi- 

 tions. Practical experience is the best guide in re- 

 gard to the selection of crops and the most suitable 

 lines of farming to follow, and it will be found that this 

 experience is in harmony with the laws governing the 

 conservation and development of the fertility of the soil. 



