THE CHOICE OF CROPS 



21 



many crops, but soil types limit to some extent the growth 

 and profitableness of some of our most important crop 

 plants. The quality and value of tobacco are influenced 

 more by the nature of the soil on which it is grown than by 

 any other factor. It is usually a good plan to follow the 

 general practice ,of a neighborhood in choosing the crops to 

 grow, though a new crop may sometimes be introduced 

 with profit. 



Fig. 5. On the way to market. Beef represents farm crops converted 

 into a form that is more useful to man. 



The use which is to be made of a crop is a decided factor 

 in its choice. On a dairy farm, forage crops are of prime 

 importance. The selection of these crops and the relative 

 areas to be devoted to them depend on the special methods 

 which are followed. Some crops are suitable for pasture, 

 others for hay, and still others for cutting for green feed 

 (soiling). On a farm where beef or pork is produced, the 

 growing of grain is often more important than the produc- 

 tion of forage. On a grain or cotton farm, forage production 

 is of little consequence, except to furnish feed for the neces- 



