52 [Senate. 



Deep plowing, and clover, with its long tap-roots, and numerous leaves 

 are admirably adapted to renovate a poor soil. 



The great advantage of one system of rotation in crops, on soils of 

 a particular character, and of another system on soils that contain ele- 

 ments better adapted to the growth of a different variety of cultivated 

 plants, have been pointed out in these lectures, and dwelt upon at 

 considerable length. 



In most of the wheat-growing districts, the rotation is limited to 

 wheat and clover, as a general rule — ^two seasons in clover and one in 

 wheat. Sheep and horses eat most of the clover. In soils where lime 

 and gypsum do not abound, they are applied, in greater or less quanti- 

 ties, to suit the particular case, or views of the owner of the land. Mr. 

 Elisha Harmon, of Wheatland, (a large and excellent farmer,) has 

 one field that has borne a good crop of wheat every other year, for 15 

 years, without any diminution of the biennial yield. The alternating 

 crop is clover. Wheatland, according to the late census, yields con- 

 siderably more wheat per acre, than any other town in the State. It 

 is nearly covered with plaster beds, and its lime rock and soil abound 

 in organic remains. These skeletons contain more or less of the ele- 

 ments necessary to form new plants and animals. There can belit- 

 tle doubt that, if we should give to a field all the constituents of the 

 crop we wished to grow, in a soluble form, and in due proportion, 

 we might obtain a large yield every year of any plant. Where the 

 elements of wheat are abundant, it is believed that they might be 

 organized every year on one field, as well as every second, or third 

 year. Whatever ingredients the soil and atmosphere will not sup- 

 ply, must of course be furnished by artificial means. The expense 

 of this in many places will be very small, while the crop is a most 

 valuable one, if it can be grown on a large scale. The wheat annu- 

 ally raised in this State is worth not far from $1,200,000. The an- 

 nual loss from rust alone is at least one-tenth of that sum. The 

 investigation of the cause and nature of this malady has long engaged 

 the attention of the writer. 



My observations satisfy me that it is not strictly confined to any va- 

 riety of soil, or particular condition of the atmosphere, or other me- 

 teoric influence. Nevertheless, the condition of the soil, in regard 

 to dampness^ an excess of vegetable mold, and lack of potash and 

 lime, greatly aggravates the evil. During the period for rust to 

 attack wheat the past season, I examined many fields in Cortland^, 



