No. 63.] 313 



If it be asked, to what cause or causes I attribute my success in 

 raising this crop? I answer, to several. 



Firstly: The soil had not become so far reduced by repeated mow- 

 ingSj as to render plowing, with reference to present proft, by any 

 means indispensable, as the crop of hay cut last year sufficiently shows. 

 The roots of the grass composing the sod were still vigorous and full of 

 juice — a condition highly favorable to their entering readily into a 

 state of decomposition. 



Secondly: The sward consisted in considerable proportion of clo- 

 ver, which enters more readily into fermentation than any of the nar- 

 .'ow leaved grasses. Hence the decomposition of the sod took ef- 

 fect in season to benefit the immediate crop, both by furnishing a sup- 

 ply of vegetable aliment, necessary to the growth and perfection of 

 the crop, or, as some would have it, the necessary stimuli to the or- 

 gans of the growing plants; and also by imparting to the soil a cer- 

 tain degree of heat from fermentation, which served materially to keep 

 it light, dry and warm. This last is a consideration of great impor- 

 tance in the cultivation of clayey or tenacious soils. 



Thirdly: The plowing was deferred until near the time of sowing, 

 or till the grass was beginning to start — so the juice or sap was in 

 active circulation — another condition highly favorable to immediate 

 decomposition. 



Fourthly: The plowing was emphatically well done. The furrow- 

 slice was not entirely inverted, but left at an angle of about 30 de- 

 grees to the horizontal; and so perfectly was the operation of plowing 

 performed, that I believe I should not be far out of the way in saying, 

 that not a foot of turf was left, either not cut, or not turned over. 



Fifthly: The quantity of seed used was liberal, and the time of 

 sowing especially favorable to the production of a valuable crop — 

 being early enough to allow the grain to fill well, and yet late enough 

 to ensure a luxuriant growth — and, 



Sixthly: The ground, at the time of soimng, was in good condition 

 as to moisture — being neither too wet nor too dry; and the whole 

 operation of getting in the crop was performed in a thorough, and, if 

 not scientific, a workmanlike manner. 



In the first place, the ground was harrowed before sowing, until 

 the surface was rendered mellow and very even. I never sow^ 

 upon the furrow; as, in that case, a portion of the seed is deposited 

 at considerable depth, while some other portions remain at or near 

 the surface. The consequence frequently is, especially in wet seasons, 

 that much of the seed is entirely lost. When this result does not 

 happen, the seed comes up at unequal times; those plants which get 

 the earliest start, shade and retard the growth of those which are 

 later; and thus the later portion of the crop never amounts to much, 

 except to occasion the farmer no inconsiderable trouble in curing his 

 crop; or, if the whole be suffered to stand until all has become ripe, 

 to lessen, very considerably, the value of that portion which ripened 

 first. 



In casting the seed, I was very particular to distribute it with an 

 impartial hand; so that every foot of ground might receive its just 



[Senate No. 63.J P^ 



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