SUMMARY 375 



bushels. The third 200-pound increase returned 1.9 bushels, and 

 the fourth 200-pound increase of the nitrogen fertilizer returned 

 only one-half a bushel. These results clearly show that increasing 

 the application of a needed fertilizer does not necessarily mean a 

 corresponding increase in the yield. Doubling or trebling the 

 application does not necessarily mean doubling or trebling 

 the increase. 



The relation between cost of production and profits may be 

 shown by the diagram in Figure 234, which indicates the profits in 



per bushel 



No fertilizer Properly fertilized Excessively fertilized 



Fia. 234. Diagram showing the relation between cost of production and profits. 



corn production on poor land without fertilization, when properly 

 fertilized, and when excessively fertilized. It is to be noted that 

 when the market value of the crop is high, the profits per acre are 

 much greater than when prices are low. Ordinarily, the greatest 

 net profits per acre can be realized when the soil is properly fertil- 

 ized, and when high crop prices prevail. 



Summary. Successful farming is determined in a large measure 

 by maximum profits in crop production and not necessarily by 

 maximum yields. High yields may not always mean large profits. 

 Doubling the yield may not mean doubling the profits. The use 

 of fertilizers has a direct bearing upon the net profits to be secured 

 in growing crops. The value of the crop increase per acre above 



