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possible condition for the succeeding crop. This naturally varies with 

 each section of the country but in its essentials is much the same all over. 

 A cultivated crop should be followed by small grain and this in turn 

 followed by a legume or nitrogen restoring crop. 



Intensive farming can never be practiced until the acreage operated 

 by the individual is cut down to smaller size. We try to farm too much 

 by scratching it over rather than doing a little and doing it well. 



As a matter of illustration of the results to be obtained from follow- 

 ing carefully the above-named points I have in mind two farmers living 

 side by side who this last year secured the same seed from the same source 

 and one by ''slipshod rule of thumb" methods secured thirty-two bushels 

 of oats per acre and the other, a wide-awake up-to-date business farmer, 

 secured seventy bushels per acre. The reason for the difference is simple 

 and is accounted for from the systematic intelligent business methods of 

 one as compared with a haphazard trust to Providence methods of the 

 other. I could give numerous illustrations to the same thing but my 

 contention is, merely, that the simple things, such as the seed, prepara- 

 tion of same, seed bed and condition of soil can all be easily governed by 

 the individual operator and will make the difference between farming at a 

 profit and farming at a loss. 



One point that I wish to make most emphatic is the classification of 

 varieties. This alone will result in astounding increase in production. 

 Provided no other way for this classification could be evolved I would 

 be in favor of placing it under government supervision and that no new 

 variety of grain may be allowed introduction to the American public 

 without being accompanied with a guarantee pedigree. 



This same principle should not only apply to small grain but corn 

 as well. The selection of seed, adaptation to conditions under which it 

 is to be grown and seed bed are as thoroughly fundamental in this as in 

 small grain and we cannot hope to secure maximum returns until a 

 systematic form of educational campaign is carried on. The principles of 

 instruction should be agreed upon by all known and accepted authorities. 

 It is useless for a dozen theories to be advanced on the same subject by a 

 like number of authorities. It confuses the farmer, as he is not in a 

 position to recognize the standing of one authority against another and 

 is more liable to follow the teaching of the wrong one. Those who have 

 the little knowledge are generally the loudest in advancing their theories. 

 It results in further harm by antagonizing the farmer against future 

 development. We will take for example the rate of seeding, it does not 

 require a diligent search to find every possible rate of seeding advised and 

 after reading some of the suggestions it is difficult to believe that the 

 theories are established on actual results. 



Among other things incident to increased grain production is the 

 seed plat. Every farm big or small should have a few acres set aside for 

 growing the seed for the coming year. By this means it is possible to 



