824 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



strictly special farming. In many places cotton is also grown as a specialty. 

 These are staple crops, and have proven successful for a number of 

 years, but we know that better results may be obtained by diversity and 

 the introduction of crop rotations. We find now and then farmers near 

 large cities who make a specialty of producing hay. This necessitates prices 

 that are far above the average and calls for land that is not too high priced. 

 Advantages of Diversified Farming. — The majority of farmers in 

 North America are engaged in diversified farming. A large percentage of 

 them combine the production of crops and animals or animal products. 



General View of a Good Diversified Farm. 1 



There are many advantages in such farming. Cotton farms excepted, 

 probably 95 per cent of the remaining farms of the country would be 

 classified as general farms that derive their income from a combination of 

 crops and animal products. The advantages of diversity so far as crops are 

 concerned are discussed in the chapter on Crop Rotations. Diversity 

 lessens the risk of failure. It distributes both the income and the labor. 

 No matter how profitable a crop may be, there is a limit to the amount 

 that can be produced with a given amount of labor, because it requires 

 seeding and harvesting in a limited season. This usually covers only a 

 small portion of the year. 



1 Courtesy of The Marmillan Company, N. Y. From " How to Choose a Farm," by Hunt. 



