294 ,, Elementary Principles of Agriculture 



be used. (1f 213). The varieties of cultivated crops 

 brought to the West from the East by the early pioneers, 

 are seldom in use there at present. They have been re- 

 placed by varieties that have been developed in the West. 

 We have here an illustration of a general rule that has 

 few exceptions. 



416. Mixed Farming. It is rarely advisable for a 

 farm to grow just one kind of crop. For example, a large 

 corn crop would require more labor to cultivate at one 

 season than one man could supply, and later leave him 

 without employment. Farmers, therefore, usually find 

 it more profitable to grow several kinds of crops. Other 

 reasons favoring mixed farming were given in chapter XV. 

 Can you name them? (See ^ 146). 



417. Mixed Farming and Crop Failures. If a farm 

 producing only one crop should be affected by adverse 

 weather conditions, low market values, etc., the farmer's 

 small returns for that season might seriously impair his 

 working capital. If he has several kinds of crops ma- 

 turing at different seasons of the year, it would be unusual 

 if some of them should not make a fair return. Mixed 

 farming, therefore, tends to average the hazards which 

 farmers must take against unforeseen weather conditions, 

 and tends to give stability to total annual revenues. 



418. The Size of the Farm will depend much upon the 

 selection of crops to be produced. In a general way it is 

 advisable to have the farm large enough to justify a 

 reasonable investment in labor saving machinery, draft 

 animals, and other conveniences that place a premium 

 upon intelligence, rather than mere physical strength. 

 (1f 394). Experience has shown that farms growing gen- 

 eral field crops and stock yield a more profitable return 

 when large enough to give employment to two or more 



