PRINCIPLES OF PERMANENT AGRICULTURE 27 



of beef cattle has not increased since 1900, and at 

 times has shown an absolute decline of at least 

 2,000,000 head over the number held in 1900. The 

 same is true of sheep, while the supply of hogs has 

 fluctuated from about the number held in 1900 to 

 several millions less than that. All of this is in the 

 face of a 20 per cent increase in the country's popu- 

 lation and its consequent consuming capacity. The 

 time was never more opportune for the extension 

 of the live stock industry than at present, and the 



A NORTHWESTERN FARM GRANARY 



absolute necessity exists for an immediate tremen- 

 dous increase of the number of farm animals in this 

 country. This demand comes from the crying need 

 of the soil for the manure produced from live stock 

 farming on the one hand and from the insistent 

 demands of the market for more and more animals 

 on the other hand. It should not be argued that 

 all farms should become exclusively producers of 

 live stock, and it is worse than idle to suggest that 



