Seeding Timothy Without a Grain Crop 587 



get sucii good grass after the wheat has occupied the first place 

 during the fall? Would there not be even a better crop when 

 grass has sole possession of the field ?" More than fifteen years' 

 experience since has justified my conclusion. 



PEESENT-DAY ROTATION 



These hay lands I keep in grass as long as they will cut a 

 profitable crop, one ton per acre being the minimum. The average 

 stand is five years, yet I have held them thirteen. After being 

 broken, the land is planted to corn, commercial fertilizer being 

 used. Following the corn, whenever possible, the land is plowed in 

 the fall, and the oats are sowed as early in spring as possible. The 

 oat crop is needed for both the grain and straw. With the oats 

 I sow from 200 to 300 pounds of acid phosphate to the acre; this 

 increases the yield and hastens maturity, the latter being very im- 

 portant in order to get the land properly fitted after the oats are 

 off. The stubble is cut high in order to supply humus. 



FITTING THE SOIL 



As soon as the oats are removed, plowing is begun. I have 

 found tliis method more satisfactory than to fit without breaking. 

 The land is plowed at least eight inches deep, a jointer being used 

 to take off tlie edge of the furrow and to turn under the stubble. 

 It is very important that a lap furrow be turned ; this leaves 

 the stubble lietween the fitrrows where it will quickly decay and 

 help to hold moisture. The stubble should not be put in the 

 bottom of the furrow where it will be a long time decaying, and 

 will prevent the rise of water from the subsoil. This, too, is 

 very important, as is the immediate going over of the land with 

 a harrow, plank drag, or roller. The former should be used if 

 the land is wet; either of the others according to the dryness, in 

 the order named. After this the cutaway is employed until 

 seeding time.' Three or four fittings with an interval between 

 will be much moTe effective than to put on all of this work at 

 one time. The ground is thus made solid, evaporation is pre- 

 vented, the connection between the subsoil and the bottom of the 

 furrow is established, weeds are killed, and the land is made fine 

 and mellow. 



