THE YOUNG 



ADVANTAGES OF GRAIN FARMING 



(1) The cost of land excepted, the pro- 

 duction of hay and grain requires a small 

 outlay of money. During the past fifty 

 years, many thousands of persons have been 

 able to obtain farms of 160 acres at almost 

 no cost. With a few hundred dollars in- 

 vested in horses and tools with which to 

 plow the prairie and sow the seed, these 

 fortunate persons have oftentimes been able 

 to pay the whole of their expenses, capital 

 included, from the first crop. The renter 

 who operates a hay and grain farm usually 

 has but a small capital invested in his busi- 

 ness. 



(2) The cereals bring a quick return. 

 Wheat may be sown in September and sold 

 in July; maize may be planted in May and 

 sold in November; oats may be planted in 

 April and sold in August. The short period 

 between seed time and harvest makes the 

 oat crop a favorite one among renters. On 

 the other hand, it takes from three to seven 

 years to produce a marketable horse. It 



142 



