CHAPTER IV 



BIG CROPS VS. NORMAL 



Pliny quotes a maxim of the ancients: 

 " Nothing is so disadvantageous as to cultivate 

 the land in the highest style of perfection." 



Modern theorists advocate intensive cultiva- 

 tion of the land. Back-to-the-landers have set 

 forth to prove this contention. They have 

 raised two hundred bushels where but one grew 

 before and have felt that they were teaching 

 the community a lesson in agriculture. 



I remember the feeling of elation with which 

 I compared potato yields with the shrewdest 

 farmer in the neighborhood. At this moment 

 I can see the twinkle in his eye as he nodded his 

 head in approval and said, "Pretty good yield, 

 that. p ' The next year his potato yield remained 

 at the same old figure of one hundred bushels, 



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