1 16 [Senate 



and when 30 years of age, by the avails of his industry, added to a 

 small legacy, was enabled to purchase, and to pay for in part, a farm 

 of 130 acres, 100 being under cultivation but in a very low condition. 

 When he commenced farming he adopted a particular system of ro- 

 tation, to which he has adhered for forty years, or until the present 

 time, and his success is the best comment on the value of his experi- 

 ment, he being now worth at least $100,000, not taking into account 

 several heavy pecuniary losses he has at various times sustained. 

 His course of cropping, defective in some particulars, is as follows : 



1st year — Wheat, after fallow. 



2d year — Clover — meadow. 



3d year — Wheat. 



4th year — Clover — pasture. 



5th year — Wheat, 



6th year — Rye. 



7th year — Corn. 



8th year — Fallow, with a heavy manuring. 

 This course, it will be seen, is a much more severe one than the last ; 

 but it is probable that a large supply of extraneous manure was used, 

 in addition to that made on the farm ; and the fertilizing operation of 

 turning under in the latter part of summer, two crops of clover, the 

 one meadow and the other pasture, for succeeding crops of wheat, 

 was an additional benefit. Another objection is, the difficulty of 

 plowing in two fields of clover immediately after harvest, and in the 

 hottest and driest season, for wheat. The manure following instead 

 of preceding the corn, is another defect. But the superiority of the 

 course, in spite of these defects, over the many more imperfect modes 

 in practice, is shown by the heavy crops obtained, the crop of wheat 

 seldom being less than 1,500 bushels (on three twelve acre fields ;) the 

 rye averaging 450 bushels (on one field ;) and the corn crop annually, 

 about 500 bushels. The latter would however probably have been 

 double, if the manure had preceded instead of following it. In this 

 respect, the two preceding courses possess eminent advantages. 



In addition to those two, the following may be proposed for the 

 adoption of our farmers. 



Simplest, or three-course system : — * 



* A very simple and successful course in some very fertile districts consists of an alter- 

 nation of wheat and clover, the latter being turned in as a green crop for manuring the 

 wheat. But the too frequent recurrence of the wheat, and the absence of animal manur- 

 ing, are strong objections,iexcept on the very richest soils, or where extraneous manures 

 are at hand, or two or more years can be allowed for clover and grass. 



