CROP EOTATIONS 191 



the necessary fences, buildings and stock. As a rule 

 most pioneers are not capitalists, and until they can 

 make some money they cannot undertake the improve- 

 ments they would like to make. This, of course, is only 

 a temporary objection, but under some unfavorable soil 

 or climatic conditions might become permanent, in which 

 case state co-operation in the way of cheap loans for 

 necessary permanent improvements might well be con- 

 sidered. 



The practice of loaning money to farmers for develop- 

 ment purposes for a long period of years at a low rate of 

 interest on the amortization plan has some objectionable 

 features, but as a means of developing and at the same 

 time conserving our soil resources it is one of the most 

 statesmanlike measures that has ever been taken by any 

 of our local legislatures. In this way'the state may aid in 

 conserving its own resources, and unless it does this and 

 more, the state rather than the settler must be held re- 

 sponsible for such uneconomic practices as the individual 

 farmer may find himself forced to pursue. 



(2) Delayed returns is another difficulty. The grain 

 grower waits only a year for his cash crop. The mixed 

 farmer waits a year for a portion of his crop, then per- 

 haps feeds it to live stock, sometimes waiting two years 

 or more before selling. The delayed returns enforce 

 economy and result in greater savings, but in some cases 

 at least, the savings are too dearly bought. The delayed 

 return is not a serious objection to rotation practice but 

 is a considerable difficulty with the pioneer or the man 

 who is deeply in debt. 



(3) The low yield of hay under prairie conditions 

 does not encourage its use. The favorable effect of hay 

 crops on the maintenance of organic matter and the con- 



