CHAPTER VII 

 CROP PRODUCTION 



THE previous chapter was devoted to a summary of some 

 of the most important principles relating to the management 

 of soils. These principles should be applied, as far as possible, 

 to the production of all crops, because much of the time and 

 labor devoted to production is spent in handling the soil. 

 If the soil is not well handled, the crops are not likely to 

 produce enough to pay for the time and labor spent upon 

 them. 



Crop production, as a farm enterprise, involves two things: 

 First, the selection of crops that are best adapted to a par- 

 ticular farm; second, a choice having been made, the handling 

 of each crop so as to bring in profitable returns. Although 

 it is necessary for successful production to know many facts 

 about each crop, there are several important points relating 

 to selection and handling that are more or less common to all 

 crops. These should be understood before taking up a par- 

 ticular crop. 



SELECTION 



There are at least three things that should receive con- 

 sideration in making an intelligent selection of crops: First, 

 the crops should be adapted to climatic conditions; second, 

 they should be adapted to the soil on which they are to be 

 grown; third, they should fit into a plan of management 

 known as a cropping system. In order to understand the 



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