. SECRETARY'S REPORT. §3 



In not a few instances, there is an apparent misapprehension of 

 the term "rotation," as it seems to be understood to mean any sort 

 of succession, whether recurring at regular intervals or not, and a 

 course is recommended as a rotation which is evidently not intended 

 to be immediately repeated wdien once gone through Avith, as for 

 instance : 



"^ly favorite rotation is potatoes the first year, corn the second, 

 and Avheat with grass seed the third." 



Now if this was actually intended as a rotation, it follows that the 

 fourth year the land would be again planted to potatoes, and the 

 fifth to corn, and the sixth sowed to wheat with grass seed, and so 

 on; for the very idea of a regular rotation involves a return to the 

 same crop with which we started, when once the series is gone 

 throuo-h with, and after a definite, and not an indefinite or uncertain 

 number of years. By rotary motion we understand such as that of 

 a wheel turning on its axis. Let the spokes, if you please, represent 

 the crops — they may be many or few, of one kind or another — when 

 the wheel has rotated once, it comes to precisely the position whence 

 it started, and if the rotation be kept up, we have repetition of the 

 same. 



There are two very good reasons for believing that the course above 

 recommended was not intended as a rotation, however "favorite" 

 the practice might be with the writer; first, the grass seed would 

 be thrown away, and next, no Maine farmer (of my acquaintance) 

 proposes to dispense with a hay crop, anxi here it is entirely omitted. 



Some few recommend a definite rotation ; one as follows : " 



" Our rotation is first year potatoes, second corn, third wheat with 

 grass seed, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh hay." 



Another, who cultivates a light soil, says : 



" Potatoes first year, corn the second, wheat the third, with grass, 

 fourth and fifth hay ; and if we think the laud equal to it, take oats 

 for a sixth, or the last year." 



Another : 



" On our grass fixrms we turn the sod smoothly early in September, 

 having added coarse manure ; in spring put on compost, sow wheat or 

 barley with grasj seed, mow three years, and then repeat; and on 

 farms which grow mostly stock ; oats and peas first year, potatoes the 



