You may be discouraged by these infinite details of care and management: but if you have not the time or the inclination to attend to them, that is not a reason for neglecting the study of Intensive Farming. It is a reason for not undertaking a greater variety of crops than you can master; a succession of well-chosen plants will fill all the time you choose to give. I am showing how the best results can be obtained, but the most ordinary farmer will find his returns vastly increased by applying as much of these methods as he can manage. For instance, at the South, the uneducated negro finds that his cotton crop is often increased, from half a bale per acre to two bales on each acre, by merely putting in a clover crop before the cotton. Apply what you can learn, as far as you can: the power to learn more and to use it will come by use. CHAPTER XXVII. FERTILIZERS. A fertilizer is something added to the soil in order to increase the crop yield. Chemical fertilizers are very valuable when very intelligently used—but look out for them. People seem to have a great love for all sorts of complicated ways of doing things that nature will do naturally, and any one who proposes unnatural processes like vaccination, or like medicining the soil, should be required to make a very strong case for it. Besides, you remember the story about the darkey who has been playing poker. He said: “Tell you, boys, I dun los’ a heap o’ money las’ night.” “How much, Mose?” “A hunnerd and eight-seben dollahs an’ fohteen cents.” “Golly! dat wuz a heap o’ money.” “Yas, siree, and de wust ob it wuz, de fohteen cents wuz cash.” So it is with the boughten fertilizers. Sooner or later they have to be paid for in cash. The outgo is certain, but the income not so certain. Therefore, be sure you know just what you are doing, and why, before you buy. Of course there are times when commercial fertilizers are absolutely necessary if only to start the growth, but we should be sure what we are getting. When we try to find out something about fertilizers, we get such technical and complicated explanations about phosphates and nitrates and other “ates,” that the ordinary amateur or beginner just takes some one’s advice; while the professionals mostly stick to what they have been doing. But the subject is clear enough if it is clearly stated.