MAINTAINING FERTILITY OF LAND 201 



We have already seen that whether it pays to fertilize 

 a crop depends on the price of the crop. If the identical 

 results given in the set of cost accounts on page 164 could 

 be secured at the same cost, the treatment would not 

 pay in most parts of the United States, because hay is 

 too cheap. 1 



In the Eastern States, we often hear farmers boast 

 that they never sell a pound of hay or straw. The com- 

 mon opinion seems to be that it is little short of criminal 

 to sell hay. There is no merit or demerit in selling any 

 particular crop. If one sells everything that grows, in- 

 cluding the straw and hay, and gives no attention to the 

 soil, he is sure to get into trouble sooner or later. But 

 there are many ways of keeping up fertility. The ques- 

 tion is which way pays best. Many of the most profit- 

 able eastern farms regularly sell hay, and, at the same 

 time, keep the crop yields above those on the farms that 

 never sell anything. 



At Rothamsted, England, commercial fertilizers have 

 maintained the yield of crops for 68 years at a point far 

 above the crop of the first years. The same thing has 

 been done in Pennsylvania for 30 years, and in Ohio for 

 18 years. Crop yields can be kept up without any kind 

 of live-stock. Just how much or how little live-stock to 

 keep is a question of finding the most profitable type of 

 farming for the conditions. Usually it pays to keep at 

 least enough stock to work up the low-grade products of 

 the farm, and usually stock is necessary in order to pro- 

 vide a full year's work for men and horses. 



Very frequently the argument is raised that no fer- 

 tility leaves the farm if butter is sold. On most farms 



1 See also Soil Fertility and Permanent Agriculture, C. G. Hopkins, 

 pp. 397-398. 



