[Illustration: Mr. T. E. Martin, Rush, N. Y., is one of the most successful potato growers in the United States. He has a farm of 57 acres of the Dunkirk series of soil. He has three 18-acre fields in rotation consisting of potatoes, wheat and clover and alfalfa. Mr. Martin has increased the yield of potatoes from 60 bushels per acre in 1892 to 417 bushels in 1906. In 1906 he produced 7,510 bushels on 18 acres. In 1907 he sold $2,807.89 worth of potatoes from 18 acres, or $160 per acre. He attributes his large yields mainly to drainage, thorough preparation of the soil, good tillage, spraying, clover and alfalfa, manure and commercial fertilizers.] (3) Will there be a general increase or decrease in the price of crops during the coming years? The following table gives the average farm price for Missouri by five-year periods. THE AVERAGE DECEMBER FARM PRICE BY PREVIOUS DECADES COMPARED WITH AVERAGE OF FIVE YEARS, 1906-10. 1866 1875 1886 1896 1906 to to to to to 1875 1885 1895 1905 1910 cts. cts. cts. cts. cts. Maize, bu. 40 33 33 35 49 Wheat, bu. 103 87 64 71 87 Oats, bu. 30 27 26 27 39 Potatoes, bu. 57 48 49 53 68 Hay, ton 902 799 704 700 875 An examination of the last column shows that the average price of these staple farm products has been considerably greater during five recent years than during the previous thirty years. Will this increase in price continue, or will there be a series of years of unusually low prices which will bring the average price of the decade down to that of the previous three decades? Few persons will care to venture an answer to this question, which is of the utmost importance to all farmers and especially to the beginner. (4) The figures employed are taken from the yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture and are the estimated farm price on December 1 of each year. Can the commodities be sold for the December farm price? Will potatoes sold at the time of digging bring less than the December price? Will wheat or maize held until May bring a higher price? To what extent, by the judicious holding of products, can advance in price be obtained? (5) Will the products be sold for cash, or may they be turned into animal products at an increased profit? In some sections of the United States animals are reared primarily because of the increased profit due to manufacturing soil products into animal products; in other regions, however, they are kept primarily for the purpose of maintaining the fertility of the soil and only incidentally on account of the increased profits. COST OF PRODUCTION