26 THE ERRORS OF THE PAST 



tion rendered the producer sure of an outlet — a 

 profitable outlet — for all he could produce ; and 

 he had therefore every incentive to give his un- 

 divided attention to raising the productiveness of 

 his soil to a still higher point. 



The essence of success in agriculture is " profit- 

 able markets." The most marvellous yield might 

 just as well have not been unless the producer could 

 sell it at a remunerative price. For while it is 

 desirable to increase production, the mere doubling 

 of production will not necessarily greatly improve 

 the conditions of the farmer or relieve the burden 

 of high prices to the consumer. It is a matter of 

 record that the largest corn crop in the history of 

 the nation ^ has yielded the producers a less amount 

 of profit than has been obtained in certain years 

 of less production, and it is also known that in 

 these years of enormous crops the prices paid by 

 consumers in most sections have not reflected, in a 

 proper degree, the low prices paid to the farmers. 

 With this knowledge of the facts, what farmer will 

 be encouraged to grow " two blades of grass " 

 when he fails to realise a fair return for the " one 

 blade " which he now grows ? It cannot be made 

 clear to him that better returns wait on increased 

 production until he feels that present production 

 is fairly remunerative. 



Farming should not only be a scientific occupa- 

 tion but a successful business. Every branch of the 

 industry should be founded on well-established, 

 economic business principles. 



Numerous educational agencies have been at 

 work to raise farming to the rank of a science, to 



^ Quoted from the Year Book of the U.S.A. Department of 

 Agriculture. 



