HINTS ON RAISING FARM CROPS 
FARM CROPS IN GENERAL 
The first farmer was the first man, and 
all historic nobility rests on possession and 
use of land.—Emerson. 
Thus spoke Emerson. We are not only con¬ 
cerned in the use of land, but just what crops 
are planted in the soil to feed the nation, as 
well as make possible a method of permanent 
agriculture. The crops which the farmer 
raises on his farm today are not new. They 
were, for the most part, raised thousands of 
years ago. It will be the purpose of these pages 
to discuss the crops raised by a majority of the 
farmers of this country, as well as such timely 
topics as how these crops may be raised to best 
advantage. This latter part must necessarily 
include such matters as the kind of soils best 
adapted for each crop, preparation of the seed 
bed, planting, cultivating, harvesting, disease 
and insect enemies, marketing, and the ulti¬ 
mate uses of these various crops. 
When a farmer iuts in a quantity of seed of 
any kind on a valuable piece of ground, he ex¬ 
pects to harvest a good crop. Many agencies 
conspire to prevent this expectation from being 
fulfilled, such as lack of moisture, too much 
moisture, damaging storms, hail, frosts, dis¬ 
eases and insects. Therefore, the farmer must 
contend with these difficulties—overcome them 
