PROBLEM OF CROP PRODUCTION 359 



problem of the crop grower is to maintain the supply of 

 available plant food in the soil. 



In Western Canada our normal soils are rich. The 

 total supply of the chemical elements essential to plant 

 growth is relatively large — so large in fact that on many 

 soil types we are permitting ourselves to neglect almost 

 wholly the question of its conservation. Our immediate 

 problem is one of development rather than conservation. 

 Nevertheless, it should be possible for us to do what older 

 agricultural countries have done, viz., conserve our soil 

 resources while still developing them. The maintenance 

 of soil productiveness is likely ultimately to become one 

 of our most serious problems and it would therefore seem 

 to be the part of wisdom to direct more of our energies 

 and resources toward the early solution of this difficult 

 question. 



316. The Importance of Good Seed. — The seed we sow 

 may be good or poor. Its vitality may be lessened by 

 frost or other injury, its vigor of germination lowered 

 by" disease and exposure, while the health and purity of 

 the resulting crop may be seriously affected by the pres- 

 ence of disease spores and weed seeds in the sample sown. 



It is man's privilege to see that the seed he uses will 

 germinate and germinate vigorously, that it is free from 

 disease and admixture, and that it is a sort that is suited 

 to the climate and soil where it is to be planted. These 

 are fundamental requirements. They constitute tShe 

 primary elements of successful crop growing. They are 

 the only things essential in good seed, and fortunately 

 for us it is absolutely within our power to see that the 

 seed= we sow meets all these requirements. 



317. Some Fundamental Facts. — The seed, plant food 

 materials, moisture, heat, light and air are all absolutely 



