barley, sorghums, and soybeans together occupy 30 per 

 cent of the crop area (table 2). 



Four crops peanuts, rye, potatoes, and dry beans to- 

 gether represent 4 per cent of the aggregate acreage. 



There are 40 other crops which, taken together, occupy 

 about as much acreage as the four crops just mentioned. 



TABLE 2. HARVESTED ACREAGE OF 52 CROPS, 1942 



Important grains and hay represent 96 per cent of the crop 

 area of the United States. Grain and hay are the backbone 

 of the food for beast; grain and livestock products are the 

 backbone of food for man. 



We Attempted to Restrict Acreage 



There was a widespread philosophy during the first and 

 second New Deals that prices could be raised by reducing 

 production. The method used was to restrict the acreage. 

 From 1932 to 1940 the acreage of cotton was reduced 33 per 

 cent, and corn 22 per cent. Soil-conservation practices en- 



