CROP PRODUCTION 63 



How disposal of crops may affect the choice in a cropping 

 system. Farming is a business. Crops are produced for 

 profit. Obtaining a profit depends not only upon the quantity 

 and quality of the crops raised, but also upon the availa- 

 bility of markets. For example, an abundant yield of onions 

 of the finest quality might be produced on a farm so remote 

 from markets as to make it impossible to dispose of them 

 with profit. Access to market and trade demands must be 

 considered in selecting crops. Usually, in long-settled com- 

 munities experience has solved this problem, so that it may 

 be advisable to follow the practice of the best farmers of the 

 community. In new .farming regions, the selection of crops 

 which are adapted to climatic and to soil conditions and which 

 may be disposed of profitably is a matter not always easy to 

 decide. Much farm land is sold on a promise of abundant 

 crops, with no mention made of marketing conditions. 



Cash crops. Crop farming, although extensively practiced, 

 is not only less profitable than stock farming, but results 

 sooner or later in a loss of soil fertility. Crops are taken 

 from the farm and sold. Consequently, there is a continual 

 drain of plant-food material in excess of that returned to the 

 soil. Humus is also destroyed. This results in the reduction 

 of the water-holding capacity of the soil, makes the soil 

 harder to keep in good tilth, and tends to prevent much of 

 the plant food from becoming available. 



The removal and sale of a crop, however, may be justified 

 in general farming, where farm animals furnish fertilizer, and 

 a good rotation is practiced to keep up the soil fertility. 

 The farm system which includes producing and selling a 

 crop for cash has one advantage it helps supply cash for 

 running expenses. Potatoes, fruit, melons, tobacco, sugar 

 beets, and vegetables are examples of cash crops. 



