CHAPTER I 
INTRODUCTION 
Farmers in the United States are beginning to appreciate 
the fact that they are not raising as much per acre on their 
ground as do European farmers. This subject is being 
brought constantly to their attention by government bulletins, 
the agricultural press, farmers’ institutions, ete. The early 
settlers on the soil found a virgin fertility which they did 
not stop to think would some day be exhausted; and they 
and their successors did little or nothing to compensate the 
soil for what they took out. We have now come to the point 
where the subject deserves our serious consideration. We 
must not only recognize the fact, but must act. The difference 
in productivity, however, is not due entirely to low soil 
fertility, but may be influenced by culture and by the time, 
method, and rate of seeding. Unquestionably each of these 
factors influence the yield to a considerable extent. 
When crop prices were low in the United States, the 
excuse was often given that European farmers could farm 
better because their farm produce commanded prices which 
made intensive agriculture profitable with them but not with 
us. This may have been true twenty years ago, but during 
the last five years wheat, oats, and especially corn, have 
brought good prices, in some cases higher than the prices 
in Europe. 
Present food prices for farm products are an incentive to 
better farming; if they continue wonderful strides should be 
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