If you are a renter in need of a fast turnover on your investments, eliminate the tree, shrub and vine crops because they will not yield for years. If you have another job which takes a lot of your time, eliminate the animal, bird and fish crops because they require constant attention. There are many crops from which to select. More than 1,000 are listed by category in the charts which accompany this chapter. In the charts each species represents a single crop.
Apples are one crop and oranges, another.
This Latin binomial identifies a crop's genus and species. Many prefer the binomial to the common name, which often will vary from location to location. This category consists of woody perennials which yield many different kinds of marketable products, including edible seeds and fruits, building and fuel woods, animal fodders, oils, chemicals, drugs and spices. Most tree, shrub, and vine crops are labor-intensive. Though many breakthroughs have been made in mechanization, no machine can match the intelligence of a person for the tasks of pruning, training, and harvesting.