130 INTENSIVE FARMING 



nous crop to provide the nitrogen a balanced 

 ration can easily be provided by the purchase 

 of the two elements, phosphoric acid and 

 potash. 



The complex which most closely approaches 

 the ideal is one in which there is a minimum of 

 waste and the maximum of profit. The soil 

 should be continuously occupied by a growing 

 crop planted for profit or for soil improvement. 

 A maximum number of high profit-yielding 

 crops should be included in the rotation with- 

 out depleting the fertility of the land. The 

 labor supply should be ample, but no more than 

 can be continuously and profitably used. The 

 ideal complex will be so planned as to use prac- 

 tically the same amount of labor the year round. 

 On such a basis labor can be more advanta- 

 geously purchased. A constant uniform labor 

 supply is more efficient and less costly than a 

 fluctuating supply. The by-products from one 

 crop should contribute to the support of another 

 factor in the complex. 



A well-planned and well-executed system of 

 diversified agriculture should constitute the 

 most intensive system of agriculture, though 

 not perhaps the most profitable. As a rule, we 

 think the most intensive agriculture should be 

 the most profitable, but this does not necessarily 



