COMPETITION— LAWS OF PRICES 65 



and the next be so low that they are left to rot 

 in the field. The law of supply and demand is 

 not directed from editorial sanctums. 



In 1891 the yield of potatoes was 94 bushels 

 per acre and the value per acre was $34.00. In 

 1892 the yield was 62 bushels but the value per 

 acre rose to $41.00. In 1894 the yield was the 

 same as in '92 but the value was only $33.00. 

 But the next year the yield jumped to 101 

 bushels and the price dropped so suddenly that 

 they were only worth $27.00, or one-half as 

 much, per bushel. 



In the corn belt the oat crop is raised as a 

 by-product. It does not pay of itself but it fits 

 into the rotation and employs labor at a time 

 when it otherwise would be idle. Planting and 

 harvesting the crop do not conflict with the care 

 of the corn. A farmer can plant all the corn 

 that he can cultivate and at the same time have 

 many acres of oats. It is not a competitor of 

 the corn crop, any more than aniline dye is a 

 competitor of kerosene. 



The local market is always the best so far as 

 it goes. It is often used by the man with small 



