ROTA.TION OF CROPS. 415 



are of very great interest. No other interpretation can be put upon it than 

 one most favorable to the view, that most valuable laws are involved in aiding 

 a maximum yield when rotation is pursued, and it teaches beyond question 

 the great commercial value of rotation. 



The yield of grain per acre on the rotation plat is fifty-seven per cent, 

 more than the non-rotation plat. This applied to the United States would 

 make from 225,000,000 to 300,000,000 more bushels of wheat, according to 

 season, than now raised. This system of farming, instead of involving 

 more expense, is actually more economical than the non-rotation system, in 

 all of its parts. 



The table shows that even a two years' rotation has its decided virtues. 

 Again, the unmauured rotation plats are more productive than the plats 

 where wheat follows wheat year after year, yet the continuously manured 

 ■wheat plats are nearly twice as productive as those non-manured. Thus it 

 would seem that manuring is very efficacious, but that rotation is more effi- 

 cacious than manuring. 



The truths herein taught are fully confirmed by our regular farming. On 

 coming in charge of the farm, I adopted a six years' rotation, which is 

 proving more effective than the rotation plats, as it was laid out as it then 

 could be, more in accord with science. The crops have very rapidly 

 enlarged, and this year, wheat following clover, the field crop averaged 45^^ 

 bushels per acre, and the hay three tons. 



T I regret, gentlemen, that circumstances forbade me from organizing a 

 more perfect rotation, and enforced a limited study of the question. What 

 I have offered is only an opening chapter, as fortune now favors, through 

 appropriations, a more complete study of this and other questions, than I 

 have heretofore given them. 



CORN CULTURE. 



BY MR. E. J. COOK, OF OWOSSO. 

 [Read at the Bancroft Institute.] 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : , 



Remembering that time is money, we should so manage our work as to 

 accomplish the greatest amount in the shortest time. Horse muscle is cheaper, 

 more willing, and far more effectual than human muscle and, therefore, 

 should be used whenever practical. 



K ■ The requisites to successful corn culture are good rich soil, good seed and 

 timely, thorough and proper cultivation. 



■f I use my barn-yard manure mostly on my corn ground, make it under 

 cover, draw as it accumulates and spread on field for corn. That drawn in 

 early winter is much better than that drawn after spring opens, and there is 

 but very little if any benefit to the corn crop derived from that spread Just 

 before plowing, therefore I reserve that made after spring opens for other 



