194 



TTOuld be sconted at llie East; and it must be abandoned here, or else every 

 variety of wheal will in succession "run out" Avith us. But the most judicious 

 system of rotating crops can only be ascertained by actual experiment and close 

 observation. A system adapted to one locality, might be ill suited to another. 

 Each experiment, then, should be chosen with express reference to the chemical 

 properties of the soil, as well as to the climate and the market, of the region 

 where made. Wheat should be alternated with other crops every year. Having 

 seen a rotation like the following suggested, I should think it worthy of trial in 

 Racine county : — 1st year, corn, oats and roots, well manured ; second year barley 

 or peas — or both ; third year, wheat ; and fouith year, clover, say for three years. 



Circumstances may occasionally arise, that will justify a departure from this 

 rule ; in such cases, however, the farmer's own sound judgment would be his 

 safest guide. Rotations similar to the above, have tripled the products of many 

 farms at the East; and 1 know no good reason why like results might not be 

 attained here, by a similar process. 



Manures. — As auxiliary to this branch of the system, the time has now arrived 

 when it behooves our farmers to pay especial attention to the making and pre- 

 serving of manures, and to the discreet and economical use of thein. 



Diversity of Products. — Since the conviction has been brought home to the 

 mind^ of our farmers, that it is unwise and unsafe to rely solely, or even mainly, 

 on the wheat crop as their marketable product, an immediate necessity is felt for 

 increasing the variety of their prpductions. And it becomes important to know 

 how to divide their attention between grain growing, stock raising, &c. so as to 

 realize the best reward for their labor, skill and money, expended in the manage- 

 ment of their farms. In this, as in the rotation of crops, they must depend in 

 a large degree upon their own sound judgment. The shrewdest of our farmers 

 are yearly more and more diversifying their crops and their labors — so that if 

 they fail in some, they may hit in others. 



In addition to the ordinary grain crops, grass, &c. our farmers have now be- 

 come quite awakened in regard to the rearing of horees and neat cattle, instead 

 of importing them from Illinois as heretofore — to the rearing of sheep, for their 

 wool as well as their carcass — to the breeding of pigs and the fattening of hogs — 

 to the culture of flax and flaxseed; and even the cultivation of cranberries is 

 creating a sensation with some of our citizens and practical agriculturists. A broad 

 field is thus opened up to stimulate the enterprise and reward the labors of our 

 farmers. And although some are straitened just now, by reason of the monetary 

 pressure that is felt throughout the country at this particular juncture, yet they 

 possess all tlie elements of abundant and diversified ^iroduets — of health, comfort, 

 and competence — all the substantial luxuries of life, indeed — in the broad acres 

 and rich soil that constitute them lords of fertile manors and happy homesteads. 



