1920.] The Use of Soiling Crops in General Farming. 725 



THE USE OF SOILING CROPS IN 

 GENERAL FARMING. 



Jas. C. Brown, P.A.S.I., 



Vice-Princij)al and Lecturer in Agriculture , Harper Adams 

 Agricultural College, Xeuqiort, Salop. 



It is probable that the twentieth century will see great 

 changes in the existing agricultural practice of this country. 

 The early nineteenth century witnessed the perfection of the 

 four-course system of farraing, and during the later years of 

 that century it was accepted, with local modifications, as the 

 system best suited to the conditions of this country; indeed, 

 tenants were often tied by agreement to make no changes. In 

 many cases the British farmer was expected to accept the practice 

 of his fathers without question, and to struggle against low 

 prices as best he could. New ideas.- however, prompted by 

 scientific investigation and the changed economic conditions 

 existing throughout the world, have of late years forced the 

 farmer to review his methods. The four-course system was estab- 

 lished during a period of cheap labour and high prices. With the 

 increased cost of labour and shorter hours, the farmer will be 

 obliged either to cut down his costs per acre, or increase his 

 yield of produce. This problem faces all those connected with 

 the farming of land with compelling insistence. The profits of 

 the war period are passing, and with- the high costs of production 

 and the inevitable fall in prices profits are not likely to be as 

 great in the immediate future. 



That farmers are apprehensive of the future is shown by the 

 increased tendency to put land under grass ; yet it is of the 

 greatest importance that, in the interests of maintaining the 

 national food supplies, all suitable land should be kept under the 

 plough and made to yield an economic return. 



Of the two methods referred to by which farmers may meet 

 the situation, viz. (1) either to increase the value of the produce 

 per acre above the cost of production, or (2'; to lower the cost of 

 production while maintaining the yields at the existing level, the 

 latter alternative is the more attractive. The immediate need 

 is the application of new and less costly processes without 

 reducing returns, so that the new^ arable land may not revert 

 to the less productive grass. 



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