CHAPTER XVII 

 THE PROBLEM OF CROP PRODUCTION 



The control of crop yields and the maintenance of soil 

 productiveness are problems that directly affect the 

 prosperity of both the individual and the state. 



An increase in net return equal in value to one bushel 

 of wheat per acre on the land at present under cultiva- 

 tion in Western Canada would, at $1.00 per bushel, pay 

 the whole cost of the general expenditure for purposes 

 of government of the three Prairie Provinces. The same 

 increase per acre per year for six years would more than 

 pay Western Canada's share of the Great War debt. 



An increase in net return equal to one bushel of wheat 

 per acre would mean that approximately $35,000,000 ad- 

 ditional cash would be available for that section of the 

 community engaged in supplying the needs of the farmer 

 and in distributing his products — the commercial and in- 

 dustrial interests; while a decrease of one bushel per 

 acre would mean that an equally large amount of mort- 

 gages, loans and notes would remain unpaid foi: at least 

 an additional year. 



310. The Problem in a Nutshell. — If one bushel per 

 acre or more of an increase is to be obtained or even if one 

 bushel or more decrease is to be prevented, the men who 

 control our great resource, viz., the soil, must know : 



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