THE YOUNG FARMER 



OBJECTIONS TO GRAIN FARMING 



(1) It exhausts the soil. About two- 

 thirds of the wheat of the United States is 

 consumed outside the county in which it 

 is raised. 



(2) It requires a large quantity of land 

 to produce a competence. Land must be 

 low in price, or the interest on the money 

 invested in the land will consume the 

 profits. The relation of crop to income is 

 suggested by comparing the gross returns 

 from an acre of potatoes or tobacco with 

 an acre of maize. The average gross in- 

 come during a decade was, from an acre of 

 maize, $9.50; an acre of potatoes, $38; 

 and from an acre of tobacco, $61.50. 



(3) Only such part of the land as is 

 suited to tillage can be used. 



(4) The marketing of cereals requires 

 the transportation of bulky products. Hay 

 is handicapped much more seriously. The 

 distance a product can be shipped depends 

 somewhat on the price per pound received 

 for it. If it costs one cent a pound to ship 



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