The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-12-24

What to plant as n profitable crop
for next year requires good judgment
and a knowledge OF the transactions
In farm products for this year. II Is
possible for farmers who keep a close
watch on the markets, compare reports
of prices and preserve all statistical
information to arrive at conclusion
In regard to the operations for next
season, so far as the selection of crops
Is concerned. The farmer may not be
able to anticipate the amount Of pro-
duction Of any kind of crop. the acre
age, rainfall. etc, but ne will know
more than the one who puts in his
crops blindly. without observing what
has been occurring during the year.
There are many matters of Interest to
farmers. which they do not observe
and yet there Is no class that should
be more careful In being at all times
informed than farmers. Business men
ave always alert. They know the con-
dltions of all the markets In the coun-
try, the average prices for the year,
the visible supply on hand from the
previous year, the yields In other coun-
tries. and they even carefully estimate
the quantity of any article required
fer the next year. The one who pro-
duces the crops-the farmer-who
should be equally as well informed is
negligent in that respect, and does not
improve his opportunities. lntelli-
gence is as potent in agriculture as in
the mercantile pursuits. the condition
of the farmer largely depending upon
his manas ement of the farm and the
marketing of his crops.
II Is u custom among farmers to al
ways attempt to supply that which was
in demand the previous year. but
which was lacking. and in that respect
they work with more unanimity than
in any other line. II the potato crop
Is short one year the area devoted to
potatoes will nearly always be in
creased the following year, and II
there is an over production of any
particular crop farmers will abandon
It for the one that was short. Such
course on the part of the farmers ap-
pears as wise one To pursue, but eX-
perlence shows that 1t Is where one OF
the gravest mistakes Is made. In the
growing of wheat, which has n world
wide market. the farmer has some ad-
vantages. but in the growing of perish
able crops he must sell quickly or suf-
fer a loss. The policy to be pursued
should be tn grow those crops which
are likely to De short the coming year.
An old fruit grower, who nearly al
ways had something to sell when prices
were high, gave as his reason for be-
ing so fortunate the following: Il al
ways plant those crops that others re-
duce or leave off, because, as they les
sen the area and the yields. the fol-
lowing crops will be correspondingly
smaller" His rule. therefore. when q
crop-for ins .ance, stlawberries-is
abundant and prices low, was to make
Strawberries his main crop the next
year because Others will leave them
out.
When a crop Is heavy one year II Is
usually much smaller the next. because
low prices drive many farmers to the
growing of some crop that was scarce.
and as nearly all of them will usually
be OF the same opinion the result will
be an oyer-producuon. Like mob, all
rush to the point of success willingly.
but not being organized or using judg-
ment the very thing that should be avoi
ded is Just what happens. But there is
one line of action which every farmer
can safely follow as an individual,
and without regard to what other
farmers may do, and that Is to grow
all products of the best quality, ship
ping to market in the most attractive
form. and gaining. by higher prices
for special excellence. that which may
be lost by an Over-stocked market.
There is no such thing as a fixed
price" for any kind Of an article. SIM
ply because there Is such thing as
quality and no two articles are alike.
Buyers will seek the best, and willing
ly ray an extra price therefor. because
the best never reaches perfection
and is always scare; hence improve
ments can be made every year. Study
the markets and compare psdces every
year and larger profits will be made
philadelphia Record.