LECTURES AND ESSAYS. 395 



was sown to New Zealand spinach. The plats run east and west. The north 

 plat was sown to vetch ; the next to spurry ; then June clover with seven- 

 leaved turnips; then June clover and white turnips: then field peas; then 

 spring rye ; and lastly alfalfa or lucerne. The spinach and west half of the 

 vetch and spurry plats had a dose of marl ; the rest of the field was sown 

 with plaster at the rate of 200 pounds to the acre. 



THE VILLAGE FIELD. 



The ground on the experimental farm being all "new breaking," it was 

 thought desirable to make parallel experiments with land which had been 

 under cultivation and more thoroughly subdued. A field of eight acres in 

 the outskirts of the village was rented of Mr. Brink. The field had been in 

 cultivation for three or four years, and seemed fairly subdued. This was 

 plowed and harrowed, seeded on the 17th of May, rolled and plastered. 

 Three acres were assigned to Prof. Beal for experiments in grasses and for- 

 estry. An acre in the southeast corner was sown to vetch and spurry, and a 

 small patch to New Zealand spinach and seven-leaved turnip. These were 

 sown June 2d. 



THE PEOBLEM STATED. 



In carrying out any experiment, it is necessary to have a clear idea of the 

 points to be proved and the questions involved. The matter for present 

 consideration is, how to bring these lands into profitable cultivation by such 

 methods of tillage, and the use of such manurial materials as are within the 

 reach of every farmer of moderate means. It does not include the use of 

 stable manure, for the reason that this cannot, at present, be obtained in 

 sufficient quantity to supply the needs of the plains. No one need doubt 

 the capacity of these sandy soils to produce crops with plenty of stable 

 manure at hand. The first question is, how to raise the crops on these lands 

 to furnish a supply of stable manure. 



The present inquiry does not take account of possible results, by the use 

 of commercial fertilizers. There is little question, that with the free use of 

 commercial manures affording abundant supplies of potash, ammonia, phos- 

 phoric acid, etc., large crops can be raised on these plains. A successful 

 market gardener near New York City, once said, " All I ask of the soil is to 

 hold the plant while I feed it." That may do for market gardening near a 

 large city, but it will not do for general farming in central Michigan. The 

 lavish expenditure of money for the production of crops without considera- 

 tion of the cost, is as worthless as it is extravagant. These commercial fer- 

 tilizers are beyond the means of the pioneer and homesteader, and hence 

 outside the present inquiry. 



The problem briefly stated is this : With a light sandy soil of very porous 

 quality, in a northern climate subject to late frosts in spring and early frosts 

 in autumn, and liable to midsummer drought, with no fertilizers except 

 marl, salt and plaster, can any methods of tillage or kinds of crops bring 

 these plains into profitable cultivation for ordinary farming, stock raising 

 or fruit production ? With what the soil now contains, what plants may 

 accumulate from the air and rain, and return to the soil when plowed under 

 for green manure, and with the cheap mineral manures so abundant in this 

 State, can we bring these sandy soils into profitable cultivation? 



