66 PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



Selection of crops. Throughout this chapter the im- 

 portance of selecting crops for the most profitable production 

 has been emphasized. We have seen that such a selection 

 involves several things: kind of soil to be used; soil and 

 climatic conditions needed by the crop; place in a cropping 

 system in order to maintain soil fertility and to control losses 

 due to weeds, plant diseases, and insects; the use of the crop, 

 whether as a cash crop or for feeding purposes; competition 

 with similar crops in other regions; and distribution of 

 labor. 



The problem is to make a selection of farm crops to meet 

 these requirements as far as possible. But in order to do 

 this we need to know the most important things about each 

 of a number of our common crops. 



The next chapters will present in detail some of the facts 

 we should know about various crops, such as corn, small 

 grains, and forage crops that are especially useful in general 

 farming; miscellaneous crops, such as cotton, potatoes, and 

 tobacco that are usually regarded as cash crops; and vege- 

 tables and fruits which are important in some places as cash 

 crops, and which should have a place on most farms for home 

 use. 



HANDLING CROPS 



Having considered some of the most important points 

 that have a general application in the selection of crops, 

 we need next to inquire into the various farm operations 

 necessary for crop production. This will include selection 

 of seed, preparation of the seed bed, planting, cultivation, 

 protection, and harvesting. 



Seed selection. There are at least four questions in 

 seed selection that should be satisfactorily answered. Is it 



