26 
part of the acreage otherwise devoted to hay. Such areas can be 
diverted into pasture, which allows a broader and more adequate 
basis for soil improvement, or they can be used as an aid in growing 
additional feed or cash crops. 
OTHER CROPS. 
Field beans, potatoes, and sorghum for sirup represent a minor 
source of income on many farms. A small area of field beans con- 
tributes substantially to the income of some farms. Some operators, 
however, have been unable to find a satisfactory sale for their crop. 
The marketing facilities of this region are very limited, and it would 
be unwise to include a large acreage of a new crop, such as field 
beans, without first having secured an outlet. Sorghum sirup and 
potatoes, when sold, represent usually the excess over the amount 
raised for home consumption, and are sold on the local markets. 
The principal miscellaneous crops sold are cotton and sweet potatoes 
raised in the southern part of the area. One operator who raised 
broom corn sold $390 worth of brooms. Small sales of berries, 
cherries, garden produce, etc., are also among the miscellaneous 
sales. The small operator is very much "up against it" for a cash 
crop in this region. Evidence of this is seen in the amount of receipts 
from the sales of ties, and receipts for work done off the farm. The 
entire region is too far north for the profitable production of cotton. 
However, with intelligent cooperation and the solution of the market- 
ing problem involved, an increased amount of one or more of these 
minor crops (sirup, field beans, potatoes, and berries) could be sold 
from many of the smaller farms. 
FRUIT. 
Apples. — The apple enterprise seems to be very much neglected 
and on the decline on these farms. A total of 168 acres of apples 
was found on the farms studied, but this does not include many small 
areasreportedf or home use only. The trees in most instances were not 
cultivated, pruned, or sprayed. Many of the areas in orchards were 
used for pasture or hay and the trees were dying out. The returns 
from many of these orchards are of minor importance. The neglect 
in caring for them was due to the difficulty experienced in marketing 
previous crops. Only one farmer was found who sprayed and other- 
wise systematically cared for his orchard, and he, last year, from 
two acres of trees, sold over $400 worth of apples. They were all 
sold, however, on a local market, and he was furnishing about all 
it could handle. (See fig. 10.) There is no doubt, also, that many 
orchards in this region have been set on soils which are not suited 
to this purpose, particularly such as are underlain at a slight depth 
with a hardpan or solid rock. 
