151 



intelligence enough to know its value, the actual wear on the soil of 

 a cotton crop is very small. 



In our own too exclusive grain growing, the land has been drawn 

 upon for the elements of the grain itself, and, by the burning of the 

 straw, cheated out of the vegetable mold which is so essential to con- 

 tinued fertility. This should be changed by having all of the pres- 

 ent waste consumed by animals rather than by fire. Some would 

 say that, from their experience, it would be more profitable to feed 

 out a large part of the grain itself than to ship it. But if grazing is 

 brought in as a method of saving the refuse of a grain farm, it will 

 not be wise to rely upon that refuse alone to carry the stock through 

 all parts of the year, good seasons and bad. Other crops, raised 

 specially for forage, must be had, so that if one resource fail, another 

 may be at hand. It will be found best also to change about the loca- 

 tion of the various crops, whether for grain or forage. And in this 

 way Ave shall have established a mixed husbandry, with rotation of 

 crops. This is what has been found profitable elsewhere, and it is 

 what has already been adopted by our most intelligent and successful 

 farmers in this State. If a tarmer has money ahead, in the bank, or 

 out at interest, the chances are that he raises a variety of crops and 

 believes in live stock. England went through this process of deple- 

 tion until her average yield of grain was very low. By the introduc- 

 tion of the rotation of crops and the cultivation of a variety of the 

 best grasses, clovers, and roots, to be fed to choice animals on the 

 farm, the tide has been turned, and the average return raised 

 immensely. The object has been to reduce the actual waste to the 

 smallest possible quantity of those elements which the farmer can 

 afford to buy, in mineral fertilizers. We, too, must study our resources 

 in the way of mineral fertilizers, but not with the idea that they can 

 take the place of vegetable mold. 



Assuming, then, that forage crops are of importance to us, the 

 question arises, which ones are the best? The answer will depend 

 on a variety of circumstances. Soil, climate, and water supply will 

 decide what can be grown with success. The product in view, and 

 the taste of the animals to be fed, must influence the question of 

 profit in a very important degree. Some plants are valuable in the 

 pasture, but not profitable for curing. Others are at their best when 

 cut and fed green. Some must be dried to be liked by cattle. Cer- 

 tain ones are valueless when others are to be had, but invaluable in 

 times of scarcity. 



CONSULT NATURE. 



I am convinced that Nature has not been consulted as much as she 

 should be in this matter. While I strongly favor the importation 

 and trial of plants that have proved valuable in other countries, I 

 believe that we ma}" find plants, either indigenous or accidentally 

 introduced, already growing about us with such vigor as to show 

 their adaptability to the locality, and needing but little encourage- 

 ment to become profitable forage crops. This summer I have been 

 examining the grasses of Oakland Township, and find that there are 

 several that deserve more than a passing notice. 



