202 PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



orcharding and the like, requiring special knowledge and 

 experience, has its place, but the market demand for such 

 products may be supplied by relatively few farmers. The 

 large majority of farms must be devoted to general farming. 

 The manure produced on such farms, if properly cared for 

 and applied to the soil, is of considerable importance. 



Its value for keeping up the fertility of the soil has been 

 discussed in detail in Chapter IV. When balanced with a 

 phosphate of some kind, manure makes the best fertilizer. 

 Besides it furnishes organic matter which is essential for 

 maintaining a favorable soil structure, and for increasing the 

 water capacity of the soil. 



Disposal of crops. The production of stock on the farm 

 affords a ready means for disposing of various crops. This 

 does not mean that no crops are to be sold for cash, but if all 

 crops are sold there is a difficulty in keeping up soil fertility 

 and a loss in crop residue that cannot be sold. On the other 

 hand, if too much stock is kept some feed must be bought, 

 often at a higher price than it can be produced on the farm. 

 Extremes in either direction should be avoided. The most 

 profitable kind of farming is usually one that combines live- 

 stock and cash crops. 



Crop residue. There is always a crop residue such as 

 stubble, corn stalks, and low-grade hay. There may be waste 

 land which cannot be cultivated but which may furnish 

 pasture. All this may be utilized in feeding some farm animals. 

 Such feeding material becomes a source of profit instead of 

 waste. 



Labor. The keeping of farm animals permits a good 

 distribution of labor throughout the year. Where crops only 

 are produced, a considerable portion of the farmer's time 

 during the year is unemployed. The feeding and care of 



