42 
Continuous Corn Growing. 
inspect the farm in different seasons are unanimous in their 
opinion that the land shows no failing whatever in its crop- 
producing power. 
As already stated, Mr. Prout maintains that though corn 
growing at the time his father began the system was 
admittedly a paying concern, yet even at the present reduced 
prices wheat can be grown at a profit. The solution is found, 
he holds, in an increased production ; for if, taking an average 
of 28 bushels per acre of wheat for ordinary good land, this 
can, by thorough cultivation and the judicious use of artificial 
manures, be raised to 36 bushels per acre, the difficulty is 
solved. It is true that this may not hold good everywhere, 
but where, as in Mr. Prout’s case, the straw can be readily 
sold and so become an important item in the transaction, 
Mr. Prout’s contention would certainly appear to be borne out. 
The average price of wheat for the last twenty-five years 
has been 31s. 9 d. per quarter, according to the official published 
returns. The records of Mr. Prout’s farm show that, on the 
average, over this whole period he has grown 35 bushels 
per acre of wheat. These have given 2 loads per acre of 
straw, the average selling price of which has been 25s. per load 
in the stack. Hence we have : — 
Produce per acre : — 
£ 
s. 
d. 
35 bushels wheat at 31s. 9 d. per quarter 
. 6 
18 
10 
2 loads straw at 25 s. ..... 
. 2 
10 
0 
To set against cost of cultivation per acre (as 
9 
given 
8 
10 
earlier) ....... 
.. 6 
8 
0 
Net profit per acre 
. £3 
0 
10 
An estimate based, as this is, on actual returns, clearly 
allows of a substantial margin for fluctuation of season, 
occasionally damaged crops, selling at unfavourable times, and 
so on, and it must be granted that it goes very far in proving 
Mr. Prout’s contention to be a sound one. At the same 
time it shows only too clearly how the balance may be turned 
by the item of straw sold ; hence the conclusion can only 
be a fair one when taken in reference to the conditions which 
hold good in Mr. Prout’s case, and must not be applied 
generally without this reserve and where similar facilities 
do not prevail. 
The case similarly stated as regards barley stands, according 
to Mr. Prout, as follows. The average produce at Blount’s 
Farm for the last twenty-five years (1880-1904) has been 39 
bushels per acre, and the average price of barley over this 
period was 27s. per quarter. This gives 
